Kuda Kepang is a Javanese traditional ritual dance that used to be performed during the paddy harvesting season. Spirits of various deities are called or invited to possess the dancers or performers. These days, a more entertaining form of this dance (without the involvement of spirits) is performed during certain events and functions. Dancers and performers are known to not only eat hot burning coal but broken glass, and other dangerous objects. There have also been instances where performers climbed onto roof tops of houses and ran from roof to roof.
The kuda kepang and barongan dance will only end when all the spirits that were summoned to possess the dancers have returned to their realm, and the door between their world and ours, closed. Sometimes these performances go on for many hours when more and more spirit possessions happen to either other dancers from the troupe or visiting troupes. Nevertheless, it is a performance worth watching.
Contact Information
To experience Kuda Kepang and Barongan, contact:
Abdul Rahman Daud
Tel: +6013 607 7025
Address:
Homestay Haji Dorani
Parit 1 Sungai Haji Dorani, 45300 Sungai Besar
Note: this performances are not done on a scheduled time but are on a request basis.