and the Story of Calonarang

October, 2025

This month of October, Padang Tegal Village Pura Desa Temple on Hanoman Street has seen weeks of preparations for the 25-year odalan cycle. Processions, prayers and dances taking place with extended clan and neighboring village groups coming to pay respects.

Devotion and sense of detail is always amazing to experience.

with Metri entering to the shrines honoring Rice Goddess Dewi Sri and to the sacred Barongs & Rangda.

The Story of Calon Arang is enacted during these auspicious ceremonies to purify the village.
Also commonly known as the Dance of Barong and Rangda, there are several versions to the story.
The Barong Lion Image symbolizes Light and while Rangda represents Darkness, Rangda is also the embodiment of Goddess Durga who has the power to cleanse negative spirits and energy.
In the CalonArang, Rangda acts the character of an enraged widow ( Calon Arang) who has a beautiful daughter noone will marry because they fear the wrath of her mother.

Calon Arang meditates in the cemetery ground with her apprentices of black magic invoking Rangda to spread disease. The warriors of the Kingdom take on Rangda only to be bewitched, stabbing their own chests instead of Rangda. But the Barong appears to support the warriors and battles against Rangda.

Rangda retreats back to her space and celestial dancers appear. Noone actually wins the battle. The Balinese believe in the concept of Rwi Bhineda– that two opposites are required to bring balance to the world. No side can exist without the other- the core of Duality in Life: Light/Dark, Good/Evil, Happiness and Sadness.
Sadness must exist so happiness can be appreciated. There is also the belief that Light will overcome the Dark- we just need Darkness to see the Light.

While these rituals honoring the seen and unseen continue to be a part of daily Balinese life, it is also my hope and wish that throughout so much chaos happening all around us, that Bali can maintain its own balance amidst growing polarity and modern issues we are faced with. And a reminder for us as individuals to find and strive to maintain our own inner peace and equanimity before we attempt to erase the darkness in others- eventually realizing our common non-dualistic one-ness in a dualistic world.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om