Who is Barong ?
Barong is the king of the spirits and the enemy of Rangda. According to Balinese mythology, Barong is a symbol of justice and is often represented as lions, cows, or even dragons. The Balinese believe that everything that exists is a duality, which brings balance to the universe. Therefore, without the existence of evil, good cannot exist. This concept is called Rwa Bhineda (which means: two opposites). Birth balances death, young balances old, positive balances negative, joy balances sorrow, order balances chaos and so on. To reach the perfect balance the universe is continuously adjusting.
As the king of good spirits, Barong leads an endless fight against the queen of demons Rangda. The battle between Barong and Rangda is presented in the dance. Barongthe eternal fight between good and evil. Barong go to battle, with an army provided by Airlangga (the prince of the kingdom, son of Rangda), to bring Rangda to justice. Rangda, étant une puissante sorcière, a jeté un sort aux soldats pour qu’ils se poignardent avec Keris (read: Ke-riss also known as Kriss; an Indonesian traditional dagger). On the other hand, Barong, protects the soldiers so the Keris don't pierce their skin.
During the dance, the dancers are in a trance. They do not hurt themselves despite the fact that they stab themselves with a sharp weapon, which fascinates tourists who watch closely. The dance can be performed all night long and when daybreak appears, the dancers come out of their trance. Once the trance is over, Barong and his army finally overthrow Rangda. Barong's victory Barong affirms his protection of the kingdom, but Rangda doesn't die. She is reincarnated Barong must defeat her another day.
A Barong consists of two parts: the head and the body; in the Barong dance, Barongtwo people are needed to animate it. Barong masks Barong are considered sacred objects and require intricate and meticulous craftsmanship. Although Barong masks Barong have become popular collectibles for foreigners, for the Balinese, they are honored beyond their aesthetic values. Each village has a Barong which is considered its guardian. Kept in the village temple, the mask is brought out only for special occasions. It is asked to grant blessings to the people of the village or to restore the balance of cosmic forces.
Why did I choose Barong ?
Unlike many fairy tales or stories, this battle between Barong and Rangda does not end with "and they lived happily ever after". This battle is a perpetual war, which intertwines the complex relationship between good and evil. Like the concept mentioned above, Rwa Bhineda, order balances chaos. But the universe is constantly adjusting to achieve the perfect balance.
I love the concept of good over evil not being permanent, because in life there are also ups and downs. We should be thankful for the good times, but we should always be prepared for the bad (surprises).
When I first started CrossFit, I hated many of the moves. After several years of practice, I hate them less. I see every workout as a battle between one part of me that wants to be better, stronger, and healthier as I get older, and the other part that wants to skip one or two things, or even an entire workout, just because it's tiriesome or it's cold outside.
Each of us has a battle to fight each day and Barong teaches us to pick up our gear to fight another day.
Read more:
https://volunteerprogramsbali.org/rwa-bhineda-the-philosophy-of-balance/
https://unicare-clinic.com/rangda-queen-leak-balinese-ghost/
https://www.baliaround.com/barong-and-rangda-balinese-two-opposites/
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