REOG, WAROK, AND GEMBLAK

Source: KOMPAS

REOG :

In Ponorogo city, East Java Province, have a traditional happening art and dance, called Reog, and Warok included with that culture. In a Reog show, usually appear 12 warok (10 young warok, and 2 old warok). They wear very much so bravely.

Young warok wear a black clothing, usus-usus (long giant white rope), giant belt, Keris (Javanese traditional sword), gadung mondholan (black head tailed). Warok’s chin wearing dense whiskers, and his chest hairy painted. Old warok are more calmly, without make up, modang (brown head tailed), and leather sandals.

Although the show are over acting, Reog tell a broken hart story. They say, Prabu Klana Sewandana, king of Bantarangin kingdom, delegate knight, whom leader by Pujangga Anom to purpose Princess of Kediri, Sangga Langit.

In the middle of destination, that knight group attacked by Singo Barong (giant lion). Pujangga Anom was loss, finally King Klana Sewandana fight against that lion. Singo Barong loses, and become Dadak Merak (Lion with hairy peacock).
Arrive in Kediri, Princess Sangga Langit wants to be married with one condition, The King should held an attractive show which never held before, so the King held a fighting dance which called Reog, but unfortunately, The King cannot married the princess.

WAROK :

Reog show cannot mention without warok. Warok, in Javanese language means giant thing or powerful. Warok term turn up with Suromenggolo knight and Surogentho knight whose live around 14th century. They say, both of those knights were stumble to get a prince for their daughter. At that war, both of knights have divine power.
The divine power is the primarily thing of warok. For have a warok degree, someone have to learn divine power for years.

At this day, you still can see warok. Usually they become a citizen both of formal and non-formal leader in his village.

GEMBLAK:

Gemblak become controversial side of warok and reog culture. Gemblek is young boy whom warok take care to substitute a woman in a sexual behavior. Nowadays, gemblak is transferring to an adoption child, not a sexual behavior substitute anymore.


Note: This article had edited to match the purpose of this blog which inform Indonesia’s unique trip object to foreign.