My favourite time of day, sunset at the beach. Lately, there has been a group of youths paractising the Barong around this time.
Barong is a panther like creature and character in Balinese Mythology. He is known as the king of spirits, and represents good, against the enemy of Rangda, who is the demon queen of the Leyaks, according to traditional Balinese Mythology.
Terrifying to behold, the child-eating Rangda leads an army of evil witches against the leader of the forces of good, Barong. The battle between Barong and Rangda is featured in a Barong dance which represents the eternal battle between good and evil.
Leyak according to mythology, is a figure in the form of a flying head with entrails still attached. Leyak is said to fly seeking a pregnant woman in order to suck her baby's blood. There are three legendary Leyak, two females and one male.
Barong animal dance is a native Balinese dance, predating Hinduism.
The origins of the Barong are far back in time, the exact date of its origins are unknown, but it is thought to date back to times of animist worship, at least 3,000 years ago, when villagers still believed in the supernatural protective power of animals.
Barong is a protective spirit and often portrayed accompanied by two monkeys.
Barong is usually portrayed as a lion with a red head, covered in thick white fur, and wearing gilded jewellery adorned with pieces of mirrors. The shape of the lion Barong is somewhat similar to a Pekinese dog.
There is so much work that goes into the making of these ornate costumes.
The lion is the most popular, and it originates from the Gianyar region, as Ubud is the home of this dance.
The dance opens with two playful monkeys teasing Barong in a peaceful environment.
The next scene is known as the Kris Dance. The Rangda character appears and wreaks havoc. She casts black magic upon male dancers, who represent Airlangga's soldiers, and orders them to commit suicide. In a trance like state, these men stab themselves on their chest with their own Kris, the Kris is an asymmetrical dagger. Meanwhile, Barong and the priest cast a protective magic over these men, which makes them invulnerable to sharp objects.
I have seen the Kris dance on a few occasions, the participants go into a trance like state, and appear to be stabbing themselves.
The dance ends with the final battle between Barong and Rangda, concluding with the victory of Barong over Rangda. Rangda then runs away, and the evil is defeated, celestial order is restored.
Bali is steeped in tradition, the Barong is one of them, and this dance can often be seen during ceremonies.
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