Like the Western military band, the original purpose of beleganjur was to accompany armies into battle and strike fear into the hearts of the enemy.

Although the origin of beleganjur is uncertain, it bears resemblance to the now rare gamelan gong bheri.

The most primitive beleganjur ensemble, known as bebatelan, consisted of only nine instruments: The drums and cymbals generally play interlocking patterns over the ostinato of the gongan gong cycle.

Though bebatelan itself is rarely heard nowadays, its instrumentation forms the nucleus of the more complex modern ensemble: beleganjur bebonangan.

Gamelan beleganjur is essential to the Hindu religious ceremonies of Bali, such as the ogoh-ogoh parades before the Balinese New Year, Nyepi.