Balitraveldiary.com – Barong keris dance is one of the many variants of barong dance that developed in Balinese society. This dance has been packaged into a spectacle that attracts the attention of ordinary people, especially tourists (both domestic and foreign).

This dance is performed regularly in the Batu Bulan area, Gianyar, every morning at 9.30-11.30 WITA. Despite being a mass show enjoyed by many people, the value of the sacredness of this dance is maintained.

Like barong dance in general, the barong keris dance tells the eternal feud between the Barong figure who is a symbol of goodness and Rangda which manifests ugliness. These two figures are involved in an endless draw battle, each other can not knock each other down.

The eternal battle has a philosophy that in life, good and bad will always be present side by side and balance each other. The barong keris dance encapsulates this philosophy in a story that consists of five stages.

The barong keris dance opens with the presence of a Barong Keket (a mythological creature depicted with a lion head with thick fur) who lives with a monkey in the middle of the wilderness.

Once upon a time, a group of people appeared who then tried to attack Barong because he thought his son had been eaten by Barong. A fierce fight broke out between the three people with Barong and the monkey. In the end, the monkey managed to injure one of the attackers.

In the first round, two dancers appeared who were told as followers of Rangda. The two dancers are looking for followers of Dewi Kunti who will face her regent.

In the second half, a Rangda follower was transformed into a demon who turned the two followers of Dewi Kunti into anger. The two followers then met the patih and together went to the Goddess Kunti.

In the third round, Dewi Kunti appeared with her son, Sadewa (Sahadewa), who had once promised to be handed over to Rangda as a sacrifice. Goddess Kunti actually could not bear to sacrifice Sadewa, but a demon appeared who controlled the mind of Dewi Kunti and her patih. Sadewa was arrested and bound in the middle of the forest – where Rangda was.

In the midst of these conditions, Lord Shiva appeared before Sadewa and bestowed eternity on him. Rangda finally appeared and intended to kill Sadewa, without knowing the power that had been given by Lord Shiva. Rangda repeatedly tried to attack Sadewa, but none of the attacks wounded her.

Rangda finally surrendered and surrendered to Sadewa and begged to be freed from the curse so that he could enter heaven. Sadewa fulfilled Rangda’s request and rescued her so that Rangda was finally able to experience moksa.

In the last section, a Rangda follower named Kalika tried to confront Sadewa and also begged to be saved. Sadewa refused Kalika’s request and there was a fierce battle between the two.

To compensate for Sadewa, Kalika was transformed into a wild boar and then a bird. Although changing form several times, Kalika is always defeated by Sadewa. Kalika then became a Rangda who could not be defeated by Sadewa.

Sadewa also changed its form to Barong. The strength of the Barong incarnation of Sadewa and Rangda incarnation of Kalika has a balanced strength, so that they cannot defeat each other.

The followers of Sadewa / Barong also tried to attack Rangda, but one by one they were defeated. At the will of the Almighty, the Barong followers are given the power to be immune to attacks. The barong keris dance is closed with the thrilling attraction of the dancers who show their immunity against the keris prick.

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