The Barong
dance is the classic story of good [The Barong] triumphing over evil [The evil
witch Rangda]. The Barong is a large lion type creature played by two men,
Rangda is the epitome of evil with long fingernails and droopy breasts. The
Barong is going about his business until he is interrupted by Rangda.
Ultimately a battle ensues and the Barong’s followers begin attacking Rangda
with their Keris [daggers]. Rangda, being a witch, is able to use magical
powers to turn the daggers against their owners, who fall into a trance and try
to stab themselves.
In Balinese
dance the movement is closely associated with the rhythms produced by the
gamelan, a musical ensemble specific to Java and Bali. Multiple levels of
articulations in the face, eyes, hands, arms, hips, and feet are coordinated to
reflect layers of percussive sounds.
The Barong
dance is performed when there is illness or misfortune in the village and there
is therefore intended to dispel this "evil forces". People gather
together at the mortuary temple, Pura Dalem. Women are carrying the offerings.
At the temple beautiful umbrellas are used. If illness or adversity prevails in
the village, the dance is performed. Evil spirits and demons come from the
direction of the sea to the village.
By replaying the story
of the widow Rangda and Barong again, the harmony is confirmed in the cosmos. The
fight will end undecided. In every part of the island of Bali residents ask the
spirit to protect the land and forests. There are different types Barongs. The
name of the dance depends on the mask, the Barong, the main character wears.
The Barong is defined in each different region as a different animal:
· a wild pig
· a tiger
· a snake
· a dragon
· a lion
The Barong is a figure
which is used to expel evil. The Barong is usually played by two men, wearing a
creepy mask lion. He rattles constantly from his mouth and embodies the good.
His opponent is the wicked witch Rangda with frightening eyes and hair. The
dance is meant to dispel evil.
There's not a good
explanation of the meaning of the word Barong. However, the Barong has a second
name, namely Banaspati Raja [King of the jungle]. The classic Barong is the
Barong Keket. This does not correspond to any animal. Besides, there are two
other forms: Barong Berutuk [young men, wrapped in banana leaves with a mask]
and Barung Landung [two giant puppets, performing a dialogue and singing folk
songs].
The story:
The story
goes that Rangda, the mother of Erlangga, the King of Bali in the tenth
century, 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, the
leaks and the demons, to come after Erlangga. A fight occurred, but she and her
black magic troops were too strong that Erlangga had to ask for the help of
Barong. Barong came with Erlangga's soldiers, and fight ensued. Rangda casted a
spell that made Erlangga soldiers all wanted to kill themselves, pointing their
poisoned keris into their own stomachs and chests. Barong casted a spell that
turned their body resistant to the sharp keris. At the end, Barong won, and
Rangda ran away.
About the origin of
the Barong people don't agree. There are several legends about it, We will tell
you two versions:
1.
The first Barong version, where we known a little about, is related to
Bedulu, which was probably the capital of Bali. The gods ordered the people to
make a Barong to free the island of the plague. On Galungan [the largest
Balinese holiday] the Barong had to go around to receive offerings and money.
2.
In another story, the Barong is connected to the demon Jero Gede 'Mecaling.
This demon came like a Barong with his followers to destroy everything on Bali.
A priest said that only a similar Barong with followers could dislodge them.
This was done and the Barong could therefore be used to chase sickness and evil
forces away.
