Dancing mask in the form of an animal. Carved and red painted wood with fur trim on ears and neck. Moving tongue and ears.
Tourist version of the Barong Macan mask. Used in a traditional masked dance drama in Bali and intended to protect the village from bad spirits. The highlight of the performance is his struggle with Rangda, a long haired evil witch. This symbolises the triumph of good over evil. At one point Rangda bewitches all the men in the village and they try to stab themselves with their famous Kris daggers. But Barong uses his power to ensure that they come to no harm. These village masks are sacred and are believd to contain spirits. Barong masks are often part of the processions during the Galungan and Kuningan holidays. There are also may performances of the Barong and Rangda drama for tourists, for which non sacred masks are used.
This mask and its accompanying costume have two people inside it. One controls the head, opening and closing the jaws and the other is the back end. They are always men, specially trained, and known as Lawangan Tandakan. The Barong masks used in traditional village ceremonies are sacred. They are believed to be created by the wishes of the gods. If a priest is told by the gods in a dream to have a mask created then the villagers will pay a mask maker to create it, with due ceremony. Dances held in a village take place in a playing area called kalangan, which is always prepared by a local priest who prays and leaves offerings that remain there during the performance.There are different types of Barong. This mask you see here is the Barong Macan. Macan means tiger in Balinese. In Bali people believe that the tiger maintains balance between life on earth and the spirit world. The tiger appears in many of the Tantri folk stories. The Barong mask and is as part of the processions during the Galungan and Kuningan holidays. When the villagers see this Barong they feel the Hindu gods and goddesses looking after them. A Barong has two dancers inside its huge gold and raffia costume, one wearing the mask and the other sharing the costume. They are specially trained for the role and called lawangan tandakan. The main danger from dancing Barong lies in the fact that the dancers may enter a trance and receive physical or spiritual injuries. Offerings and prayers are made in the pura dalem (temple of the dead) to prevent this happening. The Barong mask commands great respect from the Balinese communities that possess them. He is a spirit who protects the people from evil forces. Traditionally Barong goes around the edge of the village sniffing out demons.
