A Sizzling, Technicolour Performance

In Gianyar, just off the center of the island of Bali, the evil mythological god Rangda deployed his most exquisite pair of servants to hunt down Dewi Kunti . Their pursuit is beguiling and enticing.

Dewi Kunti had promised to sacrifice her son, Sadewa to Rangda but now seeks the support of Patih to help Sadewa to flee deep into the forest.

However, Patih is possessed by an evil spirit.

He binds Sadewa to a tree to prevent his escape and as an offering to the evil god. Sadewa’s cries erupted up to a shrill that is heard by Siva, the righteous god. Unknown to Rangda, Siva appears and bestows immortality upon Sadewa.

 When Rangda emerges to receive the sacrifice, he realises that Sadewa cannot be defeated. Instead, Sadewa conquers Rangda.

Kalika, a faithful servant of Rangda is devastated at the loss of her master and challenges Sadewa to battle. She manisfested herself as a boar and leaped and twirled all over Sadewa.

Still, Sadewa is stronger and almost overcomes Kalika, the boar when she transformed into a bird stretching out her vast wings in attack and assault.

Sadewa was still prevailing over the bird but soon the bird took on the form of Rangda, the evil god and Rangda proves to be too powerful for Sadewa. Sadewa then takes the form of a Barong.

 The battle is in full swing  and rages on until the followers of Barong emerges. They are killed by Rangda who flees shortly after. The Barong breathed life into his faithful followers who erupted with cries and howls of revival.

(The Barong Dance is a mesmerizing, technicolour performance about the eternal fight between good and evil. Played on a tiny stage back dropped by a Balinese temple, the tale is chronicled in the Mahabhrata. As it was danced out for me, I was completely transfixed, as my own lyrical version of the dance began to unfold, word for word.)