MANGUPURA, Bali (BPN) – The Taman Ayun Barong Festival 2025 lit up the cultural stage with vibrant energy on September 27–28 at Pura Taman Ayun, Mengwi, Badung.
Now in its eighth year, the festival drew wide acclaim from the public, artists, and cultural figures—reaffirming the importance of preserving Bali’s living heritage.
The festival opened on Saturday afternoon (27/9) with the Regeneration category, inaugurated by Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Culture.
Later that evening, the Superstar category was officially launched by the Regent of Badung alongside Ida Cokorda Mengwi XIII, the spiritual custodian of Puri Ageng Mengwi.
Daytime festivities turned the Wantilan Taman Ayun into a showcase of youthful talent, featuring 21 child barong dancers and 21 young kendang drummers in spirited competition.
The audience roared with applause as the young performers, brimming with confidence, took the stage—an inspiring platform for the next generation to honor and carry forward ancestral traditions.
As night fell, the spotlight shifted to the Main Stage at Madya Mandala, where seasoned champions of barong ket and kendang electrified the crowd.
Framed as a dazzling “star war” performance, the showcase was heightened by the inclusion of bojog (monkey dance) and payung (Balinese umbrella dance).
The sacred aura—taksu—of Taman Ayun imbued the stage with a unique spiritual charge, amplifying the artists’ presence and leaving audiences spellbound.
“The Madya Mandala stage at Taman Ayun is more than just a performance space. It carries a profound taksu that empowers our artists in extraordinary ways,” said Ida Cokorda Mengwi XIII, expressing pride in the festival’s success as it marked its eighth edition.
Beyond the stage, visitors immersed themselves in “Into The Heart of Heritage”, an art exhibition featuring master-crafted barong masks and a rare photographic documentation of the Bhiseka ceremony of Ratu Cokorda Mengwi XIII. The exhibition offered both reflection and depth, enriching the festival experience.
With its blend of youthful regeneration, artistic excellence, and community engagement, this year’s success further solidifies Pura Taman Ayun’s standing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while also boosting cultural pride, social bonds, and tourism in Badung.
Thanks to overwhelming audience enthusiasm and the dedication of Bali’s artists, the Taman Ayun Barong Festival 2025 has proven once again why it deserves its place as one of Bali’s most anticipated cultural milestones.
