Locals Gather To Perform The Barong Brutuk Ritual

TRUNYAN, BALI, INDONESIA - OCTOBER 13: A young man smears clay, locally called "boreh," on a leg of a figure of Barong Brutuk as he prepare to perform the sacred Barong Brutuk dance at Pancering Jagat Temple on October 13, 2014 in Trunyan Village, Bali, Indonesia. The Barong Brutuk, is a rarely performed ritual that has costumes made from dry banana leaves and wooden masks. It is held irregularly only in the Bali Aga village of Trunyan, an ancient village whose inhabitants refer to themselves the original Balinese, or people who had inhabited the island of Bali before Majapahit migration from Java began 1340. This dance is only danced by young men of Trunyan village who had been purified, selected and then go through a quarantine for 42 days. There are 21 masks of Barong Brutuk that represent the role as a King, a Queen, a Knight, the Queen's brother and other members. During the dance, the people who watch will attempt to steal the banana leaf while the dancers will try and whip the people who tried to take the leafs. Banana leaves that are stolen are believed to be a lucky charm and give fertility. (Photo by Agung Parameswara/Getty Images)