Dynamic and rhythmic Barong and Kris dances are performed regularly on stages around Denpasar and Batubulan. Travel agents offer this attraction to travelers as a starter program before resuming city tours in the afternoon. At the climax of the storyline, a group of men in half costume impressively stab themselves by kris daggers while in trance. This is the most impressive scene of the show.
Kris is a famous dagger with a wavy-edged balde and is popular in Malaysia and Indonesia. In terms of its shape, the kris varies from one region to another throughout Indonesia, either in its wavy-edge (luk), handgrip or accessories. The maker of a kris is known as an empu. He is not only an expert at metallurgy but also at mysticism. In history, a famous kris maker was Empu Gandring who lived during the reign of Tunggul Ametung in Tumapel Kingdom (in East Java) in the 13th century. In past times, the kris was mostly used as a personal weapon. In The bitter war of Puputan Badung, myriads of Balinese wariors struggled all out through the use of the kris and bamboo spears against the Dutch troops to maintain their beloved fatherland, the Badung Kingdom.
The making of a kris in Bali requires a long process. Apart from selecting the best quality material, the kris maker must also an auspicious day to start the process. When the making has been completed, a ritual procession is held to appeal for divine power to reside within the kris. It is expected that the kris will have better quality and give better protection to its owner.
Today, the kris is no longer used as a real weapon. However, it remains to be employed as a ritual paraphernalia with other traditional weapons like spears, tridents and so forth. A Hindu Balinese bridegroom affixes a kris on the upper back at his wedding ceremony. Why on the back? It’s meant to show politeness. Never does one behave offensively. One of its functions is to symbolize protection, as the ceremony is an important personal and official event. Similarly, the traditional security task force or pecalang always carry a kris when on duty. This can be seen when they are in charge of several customary-related rituals like temple festivals, rites of the lifecycle and so forth.
Balians or traditional healers in Bali sometimes apply a kris as a medium in their healing practice, but for their purpose the kris is usually smaller and shorter and is obtained through solemn meditation or paica (divinely bestowed gift). Meanwhile, some players in the arja operetta also affix a kris on their backs, which functions as a personal protection based on the character they are playing.
The kris forms a part of a family heirloom where every generation should look after them continuously. Every Tumpek Landep (210 days) in the Balinese calendar system, the family performs a ritual for these kinds of weapons and other tools commonly used in obtaining livelihood. This ritual is dedicated to Hyang Pasupati, manifestation of God that is believed to give power and quality to every tool.

News by International Bali Post

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