Thousands see Dark Mofo effigy go up in flames as this year’s winter festival draws to a close
A CROWD of thousands watched this year’s effigy go up in flames at Macquarie Point, marking the symbolic end of Dark Mofo.
Tasmania
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CATHARTIC and cleansing — that’s how Adelaide tourists Ashton Malcolm and Elizabeth Hay described this year’s ogoh-ogoh burning at Macquarie Point.
A crowd of thousands gathered last night to watch this year’s effigy — a giant Tasmanian cave spider — go up in flames at Dark Park , marking the end of Dark Mofo for this year.
The burning began with a procession from Salamanca to Dark Park at Macquarie Point, with thousands of people flocking to Morrison and Davey streets.
After it reached Dark Park, the spider — named Bella — was blessed and hoisted onto a large web of knotted rope and hessian.
“Egg sacks” were also attached to the web containing the handwritten fears of thousands of Dark Park visitors as part of a Balinese Hindu cleansing tradition. The tradition dictates that the scriber’s fears should evaporate as the effigy burned.
The model spider was pierced by a flaming pole before its web and egg sacks were also set alight in front of a stunned crowd. It burnt within seconds, leaving just a steel frame dangling from the web.
Ms Malcolm and Ms Hay said it was their first time in Tasmania, with ogoh-ogoh adding something quirky to their visit.
“We both put a fear in the spider and we really wanted to see it [burn],” Ms Malcolm said.
“They were a bit existential, it was a bit of a cleanse for us and very cathartic.”
The Merrick family, who moved to Hobart from Queensland at Christmas time, also enjoyed their first ogoh-ogoh burning.
“We usually just burn sugar cane up there [in Queensland],” Glenn Merrick said.
“We didn’t put any fears in but it’s good to come and watch other people’s fears go up [in flames].”
Dark Mofo wound up last night.
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