BARONG

Barong is a mythical monster mask complete with the body to tail, danced by tow men. The famous one is Barong Ket-Ket with its varied versions. This name derived from the sound "ket....ket....ket...." made anytime then dancers play the mask's jaw.

Barong is the symbol oh the savior and good spirits, which should always fights against the evil spirits, in this case is Rangda - the famale monster with her long hair and fire tounge - as the manifestation of Durga's powers. (Durga is the wife of Shiva, the Lord of Death).

Barong Sahadewa tells story of a kings family which was influenced by Rangda's magic powers but then is saved by the Barong Ket-Ket.  arong Telek tells the story of Vishnu' the Lord of Preservation, on his way to the earth to search for Betari Giri Putri, a goddess who descended fromHeaven. Barong Tek-Tek is an extraordinary Barong play. Instead of ordinary gamelan intruments they use bambii-tubes struck by the dancers to accompany the play.

Beside the Barong Ket-Ket there are several other Barongs in defferent types of masks. Barong Macan has tiger mask, Barong Bangkal has a boar mask, and Barong Landung (the Tall Barong) is kind of Barong in the shape of three giants, one male and two females. Each mask, completed with the body of 2.50 meters high, and statik arms, is played by a man. Barong Landung is the imitation of a giant prime minister from the island of Nusa Penida, who always makes trouble and carries diseas, so to appose him the people made these monsters and play them along the roads.