'Gebuk Ende', a rare ritual to invite rain

'Gebuk Ende', a rare ritual to invite rain

Mas Rucita Dewi, Contributor, Denpasar, Bali

Rarely presented traditional performing arts are the real treat
of the ongoing Bali Arts Festival.

Before, even the Balinese did not have the opportunity to see
the rare performing arts themselves, although it might pose a
serious threat to the future of such shows.

One of the rare art performances is Gebuk Ende, a ritual dance
hardly performed for tourist demands. The performance was shown
last weekend during the one-month festival.

Gebuk literally means hit, while ende means shield. The dance
performed by three pairs of male dancers was like a tribal war
dance with the use of martial arts movements. Every dancer brings
a rattan stick and a shield to protect his body, especially his
head, from being hit by his enemy.

Accompanied with traditional Balinese orchestra gamelan, the
music was alive and energetic. Before the show started, two of
the dancers acted as referees. They first demonstrated the dance
movements and regulations which should be followed by the
dancers. The dancers are only allowed to hit the torso of one's
enemy. Each of them shield their heads to protect from the rattan
stick.

During the course of the dance, each dancer had to work hard
to defeat his enemy. While waiting his chance to hit the stick,
he frequently made humorous gestures and teased his enemy
creating laughter from the audience.

A.A. Gede Putra Agung, a noted Balinese historian, estimated
that the Gebug Ende dance which was popularized in Seraya village
near Karang Asem regency, East Bali, but actually originated on
the neighboring island of Lombok. The ritual dance was brought by
people from Seraya to Gerokgak village in Buleleng, North Bali.

The historian said that Gebug Ende was founded in l692 when
the Karang Asem Kingdom defeated and occupied Pejanggik royal
territory in Lombok island, West Nusa Tenggara Province.

Seraya people, who served as Karang Asem's royal troops, were
believed to bring this Lombok dance into Bali island. Gede's
analysis was primarily based on the fact that no other
communities in Bali recognize Gebuk Ende ritual dance.

On the other hand, almost all villagers in Lombok performed
this dance under a different name, Perisian dance.

In Bali, the ritual dance has been performed for generations
in Seraya and Gerokgak villages. Many scholars revealed that the
dance's movements represented pre-historic art forms. The dance
was used as a ritual to invite rains, especially before
cultivating the seeds of the corn plants.

"At that time, we usually performed Gebug Ende ritual, and
later in between three and five days, rains would pour down,"
explained I Nyoman Sukerta, one of the dancers from Sangalangit
traditional village of Gerokgak.

Because of its ritual function, any performance of Gebuk Ende
dance was preceded by a series of ceremonies completed with
numerous offerings dedicated to Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa, the
God. For the Bali Arts Festival, they only presented offerings to
ask for permission and blessings.

"We pray to the God to bless us with fertile lands and plenty
of water," said Nyoman.