Bali: Sahadewa Barong and Kris Dance

This was the start of our exposure to Balinese culture. We paid 80,000 IDR per head for the entrance fee, which we didn't expect would be that high. We were given a guide leaflet about the story but it was a bit confusing. I was expecting Sahadewa to be a male since he was referred to as son of Dewi Kunti but in the play, the role was played by a female.


The Barong Dance represents an eternal fight between good and evil spirits. The Barong (a mythological animal) represents the good spirit while Rangda represents evil.


Servants of Rangda, looking for Dewi Kunti. Apparently the search was done through a dance.

Then the servants of Dewi Kunti came. 

One of the servants of Rangda became a witch and entered the body of both servants which made them insane.

The servants met their Patih and together, they went to Dewi Kunti.

Sahadewa tied up to a tree.

God Siwa giving Sahadewa immortality.

Then the Rangda appeared...

 ...ready to kill Sahadewa. He ate Sahadewa but he was still alive.

The Rangda then surrendered and asked Sahadewa to redeem Rangda. Sahadewa agreed then killed Rangda. The Rangda then went to heaven.

Kalika, one of the servants of Rangda came to Sahadewa and asked Sahadewa to redeem her as well. Sahadewa refused. 

Kalika got angry and changed herself into a boar and fights Sahadewa.

She then transformed into a bird...

...but was still defeated.

 Finally, Kalika changed into Rangda.

 Sahadewa was not able to kill her so Sahadewa transformed himself to Barong.

Still, the Rangda seems to be too powerful and the fight is unending. 

Followers of the Barong appeared and they helped him to fight the Rangda.

The end.