Ondel-ondel

As an icon of Greater Jakarta, ondel-ondel is often utilized as a pair for livening up festivals or welcoming guests of honor.

Traditionally, the figure of ondel-ondel was known as barongan, a word derived from barong, a protective spirit that can be found across the animistic Austronesian culture long before the arrival of Hinduism.

Before the construction of an ondel-ondel, the maker must give offerings in the form of incense, kembang tujuh rupa, and rice porridge.

The offering was intended to ensure the process of making ondel-ondel is a smooth one and to allow a benevolent spirit to enter the figure.

Around this period, ondel-ondel was made a mascot of Jakarta and was always included in celebratory events such as the inauguration of new buildings, welcoming guests of honor, or attending a wedding ceremony.

[1] Ondel-ondel is a hollow figure about 2.5 meters tall and dressed in brightly colored garments which consist of shoulder belts (kain selempang dada).

An archaic ondel-ondel during the colonial period, performed at the opening of the new wing of Hotel des Indes .
"Barong dance" of Batavia
Traditional male & female ondel-ondel in Wayang Museum, Jakarta
Ondel-ondel street performance at Jalan Cempaka Putih Tengah 22A, Central Jakarta, Indonesia. Ondel-ondel street performance usually travelling the streets of Jakarta kampungs ( urban villages ), and asking Money contribution from audiences and passer by. The ondel-ondel is a large bamboo-wooden puppet-mask of Betawi couple; Male and Female ondel-ondel dancing accompanied with Gambang Kromong , Betawi traditional music consist of drums , gongs , and rebab (lute). The song plays here is traditional Betawi song "Sirih Kuning".
Barong Landung from Bali is similar to Betawi Ondel-ondel