Experience a Barong Dance in Ubud - AsiaRooms.com

AsiaRooms.com can reveal that people who are staying in hotels in Ubud during May could find that they get caught up in the Galungan celebrations.

One of the highlights of this religious festival is the Barong Dance, which is performed each year to mark the occasion.

Galungan centres on the triumph of good over evil and the Barong Dance is the physical representation of this struggle.

Dancers wear traditional costumes that resemble a shaggy lion and is said to depict goodness itself. One performer will take on the part of Rangda, an evil witch who tries to make Barong's followers stab themselves with their ceremonial swords.

The ritual is very similar to a play, telling the story of Barong and Rangda before their final battle, with a number of prologues and additional dances all comprising part of the festivities.

Before the dance can take place, a priest must bless the Barong and Rangda masks because they are considered sacred items.

During the celebrations, locals performing the Barong Dance will move around from temple to temple on the island, providing plenty of opportunities for visitors to witness the spectacle.

In addition to the main event, other musicians and performers will provide entertainment to the crowds which gather at the temples to await the Barong Dance as part of the Galungan festivities.