While the word 'tumpek' means a particular day on a Saturday in the Balinese lunar calendar and the word 'landep' in Balinese means 'sharp'. People who were born on Tumpek Landep day are believed to have sharp minds and brains. Initially, Tumpek Landep was a day of rituals given to specifi c sharp tools made of steel like weapons, 'tombak' (spear) and 'keris' (a traditional wavy double-bladed dagger). Both 'keris' and 'tombak' are symbolically used by temples during festivals and processions. Keris is also an essential tool used in the performing arts. Almost all male dancers representing a hero or the upper class have a keris across their backs and use it as a weapon during a war or fi ght. Visitors who watch 'Keris and Barong Dances', one of the most popular tourist performances, will see how the armies of the destructive power of Rangda (an evil fi gure) use keris in trying to stab their opponent, Barong (representing good). With his magical powers, Barong, who symbolizes positive powers, hypnotizes the armies. The armies then go into trance and stab themselves and their leader Rangda, instead of Barong. The stab causes them no harm at all, and a priest is required to bring them out of trance.
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