Barong Dance

Barong is one of the bebali dances, which is thought to be a relic of pre-Hindu culture. The word barong is thought to have come from the Sanskrit language, namely bharwang, or bear. In the lives of the Balinese people, bears are never encountered, so the figure is only a mythological creature that is considered to have supernatural powers and to be a protector.

When viewed from the tapel, or Barong Ket, in Bali, there is a blend of Hindu culture with ancient Balinese culture, especially the Buddhist one. Such tapestries are also widely available in Buddhist countries such as Japan and China. Allegedly, the art of Barong Ket is a characteristic of Balinese Hinduism and was formed from the acculturation of Chinese culture that entered Indonesia. Even though India is one of the countries with the largest Hindu populations in the world, there is no Barong Ket in its religious tradition.

The Barong Ket dance, which is also commonly referred to as the Banaspati Raja dance (king of the jungle), is a combination of a lion, a tiger, or a cow. These animals are considered to have awesome or supernatural powers. The concept of barong in Bali as king is like barong singa or reog in Javanese society; there are just slight differences. If the Lion Barong in Java is considered the wrong party, in Bali, Barong is considered a symbol of goodness.

There is another story about Barong Ket that comes from Hindu mythology. At that time, Bathara Ciwa was angry because he had been tempted by the giant Rahu while he was meditating, and Kala Kirthimuka came out of his third eye to destroy Rahu. Kirthimuka is an insatiable being and is always in a state of hunger. Before Ciwa ordered Kirtimukha to carry out her duties, Rahu apologized for his mistake. But Kirtimukha had already come out, and in the end, she had to eat herself until only the rest of her face was left. To honor this, Kirthimuka was appointed a protector at each gate of the Ciwa temple.

Until now, Barong has been considered a protector by the Balinese people, and the art of Barong Ket is often performed during religious ceremonies and as a tourist attraction in Bali..