Barong Dance

Barong Dance is one of the traditional dances that use media mask and costume as the embodiment of the creatures trusted by the people of Bali with the mystical.

 Barong dance this dance tells the story of the fight between good and evil . The barong dance is a good example pf the Balinese way of acting out the relationship between mythology and history being blended into one reality  and also one of our Bali culture.

History of Barong Dance

Rangda , the mother of erlangga , the king of bali in the tenth culture , was condemned by erlangga’s father because she practiced black magic . After she became a widow , she summoned all the evil spirits in the jungle to punish erlangga . A fight occurred , but she and her black magic troops were so strong that erlangga had to ask for the help of barong . Barong  came to help erlangga’s soldiers .

They began to fight . Rangda cast a spell that made erlangga’s soldiers all want to kill themselves . The soldiers then pointed their poisoned keris , a sharpened sword like knife , into their own stomachs and chests . Barong then cast a strong spell that helped the soldiers bodies resist the sharp keris . In the end , barong’s powers proved to be stronger , thus rangda ran away . A participant can die or get seriously injured in a barong dance . It is said that if rangda’s spell is too strong , a weak soldier may not be able to resist it . Even with the help of barong , he may end up hurting himself his own keris .

The masks of barong and ragda are considered sacred items , and before they are brought out , a priest must offer  blessings by sprinkling them with holy water taken from mount agung . As well as the priest’s blessings , offerings must be presented . Balinese dances are impressive and were originally not performed to entertain tourists . The meaning is based on beliefs in the bali hindu religion . In these dances you will still find much of Balinese traditions.

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