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Barong
Balinese mythology
Watch a clip of a Balinese dance-drama featuring BarongExcerpt from a Balinese dance-drama featuring Barong.
See all videos for this articleBarong, masked figure, usually representing an unidentified creature called keket, who appears at times of celebration in Bali, Indonesia. For the Balinese, Barong is the symbol of health and good fortune, in opposition to the witch, Rangda (also known as Calonarang). During a dance-drama that includes the famous kris (heirloom sword) dance, in which deeply entranced performers turn swords on themselves but emerge unharmed, Barong confronts Rangda in magical combat. Barong is brought to life by two dancers encased in an ornately decorated harness. From the figure’s mask hangs a beard of human hair decorated with frangipani flowers, in which the magic power of Barong is thought to reside.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Virginia Gorlinski.
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