javatourism

Daily Life

The Javanese carry out their life optimistically. The life as a divine gift should be accepted and executed accordingly. As a basic principle, they are 'nrimo' (means to accept; accepting divine wish and always pray for 'slamet' (to be safe). A parent blessing for their kids always begins with 'slamet'.

In order to be always in safety, avoiding troubles, one must always 'eling' (has to know what's right and wrong. So, he or she has to do only good and right things, by not breaking the rules of God (wewalering agama) and the rules of law (wewalering negoro).

Guided by those above principles, the Javanese has to work (mergawe) and dedicate (makarya) themselves to improve the quality of life. Working and dedicating one's life is an obligatory for a living human being. As in any other part of the world, there are a lot of choices of work fields in Java.

The 'dreaming period' that Java has a very fertile soil, good climate, rich nature, so that only by a little work one could easily get enough food, clothing and shelter is over. The people are fully conscious that they could get prosperity only by hard working.

As in the ancient time, the majority of the population lives in the country site. The farmers cultivate their lands seriously in order to have good harvest. Everyday, before sunrise when a lot of town's people are still asleep, the farmers are already in their rice and vegetables fields to water their plants. They have to take a good care of the plants by cleaning and fertilizing adequately, combating any plant diseases. Some of them have to feed their cattle, drive them to the grass terrain or just feed them in their cages.

Some of the villagers shall bring their fresh products to the traditional markets in the nearby towns, by walking on foot, bicycles, motor bikes, traditional carts drawn by ponies, or public transportation. The activities in the villages begin early in the morning, the farmers begin their daily life amidst the morning mist.

The traditional markets


It starts breaking the loneliness early in the morning too. Sellers and buyers with friendly faces exchange their needs, bargaining is a part of the game, it's spice in the traditional trade, where the price agreed give satisfaction to both sellers and buyers.

The Traditional Fishermen

At the coast of the sea, the traditional fishermen with their traditional sailing boats, equipped with some nets start sailing at night. The winds shall push the boats to the sea several kilometers from the shore. With their nets, the fishermen catch the fishes.

By morning, the wind shall send them back to the shore. Some fresh fishes are forwarded to the market, some are dried to be 'salty fishes' as a natural way of food preservation. It can be consumed or sold letter on.

Traditional Fast Food vendors

In the early hours, starting at 06.00 o'clock local time, in several places there are vendors of ready made food. Usually, they occupy a very small plot of place. In the corner of a street or in any strategic spot along the street, usually they offer a special warm dish, for instance :
Nasi gudeg : nasi is a boiled rice and gudeg is prepared from jack fruit cooked with coconut milk, sambel goreng, a boiled leather buffalo with spices and chili peppers, and other dishes upon choice : boiled eggs, chickens, tofu (tahu and tempe).
Nasi pecel : Nasi with vegetables. Nasi is basic food as bread for westerners.
Bubur ayam : Porridge of rice with chicken.
Bubur kacang ijo : sweet porridge of mung beans, cooked with coconut milk.

Excepts those traditional food vendors, there are also stalls selling susu sapi (fresh cow milk) and roti panggang (baked bread). These food stalls are of a great help for many people who have no times to cook their breakfast, and for those who have no time for breakfast at home.
The Office Workers

Thousands of people are working in the offices, public or private in many different sectors, five days or six days a week except holidays. The government officials start at 07.00 in the morning, the private enterprises usually start at 08.00 in the morning.

In the old days, the priyayi (court families) they prefer to work for the palace/Karaton or for the government institutions, but nowadays many of them work also in private enterprises. In fact, there are two types of priyayi :
The first : by birth, they are descendants from Sultan or king.
The second : by profession, holding high ranking position in the government offices.
Those who are working in private sectors consists of : the owners (small part), the executives and the staff or workers.

The shops, malls and shopping centers in the down town area open also at 08.00 o'clock local time.

Factory workers are also abundant, in various fields of products, for home consumption as well as for export purposes.

The Pupils, The Students

The youngsters are a big part of the community. So early in the morning a big column of pupils, students as well as teachers, fills the streets on the way to their respective schools and universities, private and public. The classes start at 07.00 0'clock in the morning. There are also some schools, which start in the afternoon, some courses and vocational training in the evening. Majority of a youth is aware, that education is a bridge for a better future.


Considering the huge participants in this field, schools and universities nowadays are not seen as merely educational institutions but also as a booming industry.

It is worth to note, that although local educational system is improving and to certain aspects have a good quality, some luckier parents send their children to study in the universities abroad such as in Australia, Europe, Japan and U.S.A. But do not be surprised that some foreign students, mostly postgraduate are studying in the Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta in different subjects. It should give a positive result for a broad international cooperation in the era of globalization.


Gajah Mada University

The Role of Women

It goes without saying that Javanese as well as Indonesian women play an important role in this country. In every sector of live, just name it, women are involved.

Nyi Ageng Serang
In the farms, the offices, the factories and the arm forces, there are women workers, staff, executives, directors, experts, high ranking government officials, and members of parliament and even government ministers.

The women role dated back from the ancient time, there were several queens in power. There were some heroines, such as Nyi Ageng Serang, a brave fighter during Javanese war against Dutch colonialism led by Prince Diponegoro (1825 - 1830 AD), then Cut Nyak Dien from Aceh, Dewi Sartika from West Java and Kartini from Central Java, the mother of women emancipation in modern times.

Transportation

Following the era of modernization, Central Java is in the period of transition. There are traditional means of transportation, such as bike, becak (three wheel rickshaw), dokar (two wheel cart) andong (four-wheel cart) drawn by ponies and sometimes gerobak sapi, a cart drawn by oxen, are still operating in the area. More Modern City transports are motor, bikes, cars, buses, and trucks. In the cities of Yogya and Central Java, those means of transport are mingled together everywhere, especially in the peak hours; in the morning, at noon during lunchtime and in the afternoon after office hours. But traffic in this region is far better than in Jakarta. One can still ride or drive more relax, but cautions is a good advice.


For transports in the city, regular small buses, buses, taxis and trains are available. For comfort, take the ones with air conditions. Flight to and from Yogya, Solo and Semarang are available on regular schedules.


Communications

The local and international communications by telephone, telex, fax, hand-phone and e-mail are available. Hotels, offices, most of them are provided with these facilities. There are also a lot of Wartel (Telephone stall) rendering service of communication. No one has to worry about it.

Hand-Phone

Foreign travelers bringing their own GSM hand-phones to Central Java might use them without any problem as long as their foreign operators have an agreement with one of the GSM operators in this country :

* Telkomsel (Ind-TSEL)
* Satelindo (Ind-SATC)
* Excelcomindo (Ind-XL)

In Indonesia there are two systems of hand-phone namely AMPS (analog) and GSM (digital).

Posted by zeeya at 07:10 | Permalink | Comments

AMU (TRADITIONAL HERBAL MEDICINE)
and
TRADITIONAL COSMETICS

JAMU

'Back to nature' is not merely a slogan in Java and Indonesia. The visible proof is the use of traditional herbal medicine of various type of 'medical plants', either from the leaves, the fruits, the roots, the flowers or the barks, etc.

These herbal medicine had been used since the ancient time up to now, it is largely consumed by people of different level; lower, middle and upper, in the villages and in the big cities.

The study of jamu had been conducted by Rumphius, a botanist as early as the year 1775 AD by publishing a book 'Herbaria Amboinesis'. A scientific research for jamu by the research center of herbal medicine in Bogor Botanical Garden, resulting a publication of a book 'Medical Book for Children and Adults', composed by E. Van Bent.

The first seminar about jamu has been held in Solo in 1940, followed by a Formation of Indonesia's Jamu Committee in 1944. In the 1966, a seminar on jamu was held again. In 1981, a book by title of 'The use of Medical Plants' was established to support the jamu industry in the country.

The method of using the jamu remains the same as the ancestors did. Some are consumed by drinking it and some are for outside application.

At present one could buy easily ready made jamu packed modernly in the form of powder, pills, capsules, drinking liquid and ointments. Of course there are still jamu shops, which sell only ingredients or prepare the jamu on spot as required by buyers. Some women are roaming the street to sell jamu, is a common view across the country.

The traditional methods of making jamu such as by boiling the prepared herbal ingredients (jamu godok) still prevail in Javanese society. The popular traditional tools of making jamu are still available in many Javanese houses such as; Lumpang (small iron Mortar), pipisan, parut (grater), kuali (clay pot), etc.

What kind of disease could jamu cure?
The reply is almost every disease, jamu could cure. There are various kinds of jamu to combat different kind of illness. In Principle there are two types of jamu; the first is jamu to maintain physical fitness and health, the locally popular are Galian Singset (to keep women body fit and slim) and Sehat Lelaki (to keep men body healthy). The second is jamu to cure various kinds of illness. Except the above, there are special jamu created with the purpose to maintain a loving family harmony. The popular products among other are Sari Rapet, which makes a women sexual organ in a good condition, as for the man the matched product is jamu Kuat Lekaki (strong man). The Javanese are also taking a great care to pregnant women during pre and postnatal period by producing the related jamu. There are also jamu for the babies.

The Herbs for Jamu
There are hundreds of herbs for jamu prescriptions, among other are:

Spices
Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)
Lempuyang (Zingiber Oronaticum)
Temu Lawak/ Wild Ginger (Curcuma Cautkeridza)
Kunyit/ Tumeric (Curcuma Domestica)
Kencur/ Greater Galingale (Kaemferi Galanga)
Lengkuas/ Ginger Plant (Elpina Galanga)
Bengle (Zingiber Bevifalium)

Leaves
Secang (Caesalpinia Sappan Hinn)
Sambang Dara (Rexco Ecaria Bicolar Hassk)
Brotowali (Tiospora Rumpii Boerl)
Adas (Foeniculum Vulgare Mill)

Fruits
Jeruk Nipis/ Calamondin (Citrae Aurantifalia Sivingle)
Ceplukan (Physalic Angulata Him)
Nyamplung (Calophylum Inaphyllu)

Barks
Kayu Manis/ Cinamon (Gijeyzahyza Glabra)

Flowers
Melati/ Yasmin (Jataninum Sunbac Ait)
Rumput Alang-alang (Gramineae)

It is worth to note that some jamu factories in Java are exporting its products. Besides the export of ready made jamu, 25 kinds of herbal plants and ingredients are also in the list of export to Europe, Australia, USA, Japan, etc.

No Side Effects
The people like to consume jamu due to :

* Availability in many places
* Comparatively cheap price
* No side effects



TRADITIONAL COSMETICS

The Natural Beauty of Woman
A Javanese woman is very much concern for her physical appearance to be always slim, beautiful with an alluring bright smiling face.

As a Javanese idiom says "Ngadi Sarira" to maintain the body to be always in perfect condition is of prime important. The way of life of a Javanese is greatly influenced by the royal culture. Not surprisingly that the art of "Keeping Beauty' is originated from the court palaces.

The Secret of a Princess Beauty
The Ladies of the Royal Families have a reputation to inherit the beauty of goddesses from paradise.

As told in the story of wayang (leather puppet) by the dalang (puppet master) , all parts of a princess body is always perfect and alluring: the beautiful black thick hair, a smooth skin, bright eyes, charming eye brows, eye lids and nose, bright reddish lips, white nicely teeth, wonderful built neck and shoulder, beautiful hands and arms, a waist like the one of a bee meanings slim and perfectly built.

The dalang with a clear deep voice, like in the poem reading adores the beauty of a princess with a thousands of words. It seems that all words of a complete dictionary are not enough to express of what a wonderful beauty a princess has.

The use of Traditional Jamu and Cosmetics
Nowadays, some secrets of this Karaton (Palaces) culture of "Ngadi Sarira" are known by many women from outside the Karaton walls. The Jamu is widely used to give an inner beauty, due to a good physical health.

Some of the products are consumed directly by eating it, for instance Kepel Fruit (a brown fruit of a chicken egg size), it's a natural deodorant. By eating it that would fragrant the odor of the body even the urine smells the fragrance of that fruit.

Jambu Mawar ( a kind of rose apple, mawar means a flower of rose) gives a fresh smell of breath. Some cosmetics are for outside application such as bedak dingin (cool powder) and lulur (scrubbing powder).

Beauty Care
Every woman is always proud of her hair – thick and shining, color and style. For natural shampooing, the ash of rice stalks work as a shampoo to clean the hair. After being washed by water, ingredients consist of
coconut milk, jeruk purut (a kind of citrus fruit smells like a lime ) and pandanus leaves are to be applied. It functions as a conditioner to clean the dandruff. The hair then washed by water again, to be dried while vaporizing with ratus fragrance.

Finally, a hair oil by the name of cemceman, made of coconut oil with pandanus , kenanga flower, jeruk purut etc. is applied.

Skin Care
For face caring, bedak dingin (cool powder) is applied. It's made from tendered rice with special ingredients, such as pandanus, kenanga flower etc.

For other parts of the body, lulur is applied, popularly known as mandi lulur (lulur bathing).

Lulur is also made from tendered rice, pandanus, some leaves of kemuning (with yellow color) and some medicinal roots. The lulur should stimulate the body to throw out the dead cells, replace it with new ones, stimulate blood circulation under the skin, smooth the skin and at the same time scents it.

Steaming the body
Steams of several boiled herbs are applied to ensure body freshness, including the woman organ. The steaming took about a ½ hour.

Producers
Besides the traditional cosmetics made by hand, in the country there are some big and well known manufactures of cosmetics, using modern machinery. These products are used widely across the country, even this cosmetics have been exported to many countries of the world.

Posted by zeeya at 07:06 | Permalink | Comments

ROKOK KRETEK

Rokok is cigarettes, kretek is clove flavored, so rokok kretek means clove flavored cigarettes. For many millions Javanese and Indonesians, kretek is enjoyable companion, tasteful, it gives a feeling of relief & relaxation and its price is nothing compare to the comfort given.


Clove tree
In restaurants, pubs, bars, discotheques, public buildings and in many other places outdoor, the sweet smoke from kretek are smelt. This is a common sight, but nowadays, many sites are divided to smoking and non smoking areas. Some air conditioned buildings even declared as non smoking.

Brief history

Rokok kretek was invented by a man from the town of Kudus, 50 km eastward of Semarang in the early nineties AD. The man Noto Semito was from a long time suffering from cough and asthma. Desperate to cure his illness, he rolled tobacco mix with crushed cloves in dried corn leaves - this is the original kretek cigarettes.

The rokok klobot (klobot is dried corn leaves). After smoking these kretek he was cured and become healthier. He began to manufacture his new kretek cigarettes with trade mark of BAL TIGA (three balls). He actively marketed the kretek every where, through radio, touring vans with music and dancers, even by air dropping promotion leaflets.

He become a very successful business man, a billionaire. His steps was followed by many others and soon kretek industry was mushrooming also in other cities.

The fate of Noto Semito, The Father of Kretek, ended tragically, he was bankrupt in 1953, crashed by his invented kretek vast industry.

The Present Day Kretek

The kretek follows 'modernization' in cigarettes industry. The new filter kretek are major products, the contents of crushed cloves are smaller, changed with clove essence. The crushed cloves are kept to maintain the voice of burning kretek - crakling : tek, tek, tek, from here comes the name of kretek.

The leaders of kretek nowadays are Djambu Bol, Sukun, Nojorono, Jarum (in Kudus and Central Java), Bentoel (in Malang), Gudang Garam (in Kediri) and Sampurna (in Surabaya). There are also smaller manufacturers, such as Menara (in Solo), Pompa (in Semarang), etc. More than 95% of local smokers prefer kretek than rokok putih or white cigarettes - non clove cigarettes.

No one denies that kretek industry brings a huge sum of tax to the state purse and millions of people depend their income to this chains of business, starting from the tobacco and clove farmers, workers at the factories, sellers in many shops and stalls, truckers, involved in this industry and it's worth to note - their families.

Tobacco Connoisseur

The kretek factories absorb a lot of tabacco. The buyers - mainly the kretek producers, they hire several connoisseurs, experts of tobacco, to secure the quality of their products. They are very well paid. No doubt of their specific expertise. Only by smelling the wet tobacco leaves or dried cut tobacco leaves, high qualified connoisseur should know precisely the origin of the tobacco. It is from Wonosobo , Magelang or Boyolali (Central java) or from Besuki (East Java), and knows the harvest year of every tobacco tested. The testing is important as prices differs from region to region.


Tobacco plantation

Pawang Hujan

Is someone endowed with magic power to prevent rainfall in a certain area (hujan is rain).The competition in cigarette manufacturing sector is quite tough. A good quality tobacco is the product of tobacco leaves harvested in dry season. The rain before harvest shall lower its quality.

A vast of tobacco farm, thousands of hectares, in a certain area belonged to a big kretek factory, should be continuously supervised and guarded by a pawang hujan assigned by the factory. The pawang hujan should say his spells and does all necessary things, whenever a dark cloud is hanging over the farm. He could move the cloud ready to pour rainfall to other area or he should postpone the rainfall for a certain period of time.

In tobacco plantations, 'a war between pawang hujan', sometimes happened (the service of pawang hujan exists also in big cities for instance for protecting some big parties or ceremonies, private or public ones).

Kretek and Health Care

Despite any criticism from health organizations recently, that cigarettes smoking including kretek is not good for someone health, a lot of kretek smokers - men and women alike are still enjoying the habit of kretek smoking. They say that kretek is 'a cheap entertainment' they can effort to buy.

It is effective to eradicate stress in this tensed life. Moreover, the fact that shows many old people are kretek addicted, has discouraged some people to give up kretek.

Posted by zeeya at 07:05 | Permalink | Comments

KETOPRAK

Ketoprak is a popular traditional theatre accompanied by gamelan music, the dialogue sometimes alternated by songs. Probably it is like operetta but with more dialogue.

The stories exposed are usually from Javanese ancient kingdoms. The more popular folklore very oftenly staged are :

1. The story of Damarwulan, a brief Majapahit soldier who successfully could defeat Minakjinggo , a rebel-regent from Blambangan. at the happy ending he became the husband of Majapahit's Queen.
2. The story of Jaka Tingkir, the boy of the village of Tingkir, his name was Mas Karebet. At the beginning he served the kingdom of Demak as a low ranking soldier. He got chances to prove his ability in fighting, mastering martial art of self defense. Sultan/King Trenggono was very impressed of his skill and loyalty, took him as his son-in-law. Jaka Tingkir then was appointed to be Sultan successor and crowned as Sultan Hadiwijaya. He moved the capital of Demak to Pajang, west of Solo.
3. The story of Panembahan Senopati , the first ruler of the second Mataram Kingdom, his struggle to power, how did he manage Mataram, last but not least: his love affairs.

Sultan Agung, The Greatest King of Mataram Dynasty with his famous right-hand advisor and chief warrior Prince Purboyo.
Except those heroic knights, there are also legends exposing love affairs such as Pronocitro and Roro Mendut, a kind Javanese style of Romeo and Juliet.

In Ketoprak performance, there is always an amusing act by jokers to keep the performance vivid.
The Ketoprak was born around the year 1920 in Solo but reached its peak in Yogyakarta in 1950. It was created by artist from outside the palace wall, where the commoners were proud to play on the stage as kings, prime ministers, warriors, princes and princesses. In its development Ketoprak was also enjoyed by the elite.

The original music accompanied Ketoprak were rice pestle and mortar. The sound of rice pestles beating mortar: prak, prak, prak is where the name Ketoprak from.

Nowadays Ketoprak performance is accompanied by gamelan music.

Posted by zeeya at 07:03 | Permalink | Comments

In a certain place in Malioboro or in Alun-alun Lor (Palace North Square), Yogyakarta or infront of Sriwedari, Solo or Somewhere in Simpang Lima - Semarang, a loud of rhythmical gamelan music is heard and then a crowd gathering is seen in the sidewalks or in the square. Those people are watching a Jatilan dance, played by several dancers on a flat bamboo horses, accompanied by a loud sound of gamelan music interrupted by the sound of whips. The players could be men or women.

Jatilan is another kind of trance dance which can be seen in many places in Java, in the towns as well as in the villages. The other name for jatilan is Jaran Kepang or Jaran Dor (jaran is horse in Javanese; dor is the sound of a whip).

The most eye-cathing and dramatic is the dancer on a flat bamboo horse who becomes entranced. He moves wildly, rolling himself on the ground several times, whipped many times by the dukun - the leader of the jatilan group, the whole thing is quite demonic.

The most breath-taking action by the trance dancers is when he is eating raw paddy rice and electric bulbs or other materials of glasses. Sometimes he eats also a bowl of hot chili pepper. It is something beyond logic. The performance usually takes about thirty minutes time.

The most important man in jatilan is the dukun, the leader who possesses Supernatural power. He must have the ability to control the trance dancer, when the dancers should begin, and at the end has to order him to stop and put him back conscious again.

After a short break, the jatilan group should continue its way to play in another place. In a day the group could play several times - five or six times per day.

Posted by zeeya at 07:01 | Permalink | Comments

REOG PONOROGO

The dance known as Reog is a very spectacular dance with several dancers wearing bright colorful costumes accompanied by merry gamelan music.

It is always played in the open terrain, such as in a square, street etc. This dance which always draws a lot of spectators is a traditional art dance combined with magical show or a trance dance.

The reog dates back during the Hindu period in East Java. The story is related with the legend in Ponorogo Kingdom (+/- 70 km South East of Solo). Nowadays reog dance groups can be found also in other regions of Solo, Yogya, Other Towns in East Java, Kalimantan, Jakarta, even in Suriname. One of the famous group is Reog Prambanan in the border of Yogyakarta – Solo.

The Story

The powerful King Kelono Sewandono of Ponorogo Kingdom was famous with his fighting skills and magical power, accompanied by his Patih (Prime Minister) Bujanganom & his strong soldiers were attacked by King Singabarong, The King of Lions of Kediri Jungle, supported by his army, consisted of Lions and Peacocks.

At that time the Ponorogo's group were on the way to The Kingdom of Kediri guarding King Sewandono to marry Dewi Ragil Kuning, a princess of Kediri Kingdom.

There was a big fight between mighty warriors having magical power. The peacocks flew up and down flapping their wings to support The Lions – Singa Barong.

Bujanganom with his magic whip, supported by some Waroks in black traditional dress defeated The King Lion with all his followers.

The King of Ponorogo and his soldiers merrily continued their way to Kediri on horse back. Singa Barong joint the procession The Peacocks kept close to Singa Barong opened their tail feathers which looked like beautiful fan. (Warok of Ponorogo is a man with strong magical power, always dresses in black costumes)

The Performance

The central figure of this dance is The Lion King Singa Barong represented by a dancer wearing a mask of a Lion carrying a large peacock feather fan on top of the mask (this mask is locally called : Topeng Dadak Merak). It weight around 50 kg. The dancer has to use his teeth to hold the mask from inside.

He must have a very strong set of teeth and neck to move around the mask Dadak Merak. On top of this, he has also to carry a lady representing Princess Ragil Kuning. Or sometimes, he has to demonstrate his skill and strength by carrying another mask dancer on top of him, and still he could dance with vigorous and fantastic movements.

King Kelono Sewandono wearing a mask and a crown is a stylish dancer, Bujanganom also wearing a mask is an acrobatic dancer.

The Waroks in black costumes,

Jatilan - good looking young soldiers riding flat bamboo horses (Kuda Kepang).

Caplokan - Wears a dragon mask to lure Singa Barong to dance more livelly.

It is important to note that a reog dance group must have at least one "Wong Tuwo" (Old Man) or "Wong Pinter" (Clever Man) dealing with magical matters.

In a certain celebration several reog groups could perform together, sometimes until 100 groups.

Nowadays there is a reog groups with all dancers are woman, the only one is from Wonogiri regency, district of Slogohimo (50 km South of Solo).

Posted by zeeya at 06:59 | Permalink | Comments

Performance of Wayang Kulit (Leather Puppet)

Wayang kulit is performed the whole night commencing at about 09.00 PM to 05.00 AM. It needs around eight hours to perform a plot of stories from Ramayana or Mahabrata epoch.

From Ramayana, for instance could be performed the story (lakon) of Anoman Duta for the whole night. Duta means envoy, ambassador. This plot tells the episode when Anoman was assigned by Rama to visit Alengka Kingdom to negotiate with Rahwana to release Sinta peacefully.

The performance could start with the birth of Anoman, his experiences while he was young showing how he learned his knowledge, got supernatural power, etc, until he met Rama and entrusted to act as his envoy to Alengka.

In Alengka he tried to accomplish his job in the best possible manner, but jailed due to rejection of Rahwana. He escaped from death penalty by burning the city. He could see Sinta in her custody, found out that she was safe and still loyal to her husband. Anoman finally could left Alengka and reported result of his mission to Rama. The performance of this story should end at 05.00 o'clock in the morning just before the sunrise.

Other plot (lakon) Rama Tambak (tambak means dam). It tells the story when Rama with the help of the monkey king Sugriwa and his soldiers were making a bridge across the sea to access to Alengka.

From Mahabharata there are several plots could be performed for example, Gatotkaca Winisuda (winisuda from the word wisuda means to graduate or graduation ceremony), tells the story when Gatotkaca was assigned as Senopati (Chief Warrior) of Pandawa in Bharatayuda. It could start with his days as youngster, showing his supernatural power and knowledge since his infant, his unreserved love to Pandawa, his marriage until his appointment as Senopati in Bharatayuda.

Other plot showing more religious aspect is for example, the story of Bima Suci (suci : holy), telling how Bima overcome a lot of obstacles when he searched the holy water of life. Until finally he met with Dewa Ruci, a very small god by build who told Bima the secret of life.

It is important to select the plot of story before performance, usually in accordance with the aim of a ceremony. For instance, someone is assigned to be a new rector of a university, to celebrate this occasion the university is performing wayang kulit. The plot of story considered as relevant is Lahire Wisanggeni (the birth of Wisanggeni). Wisanggeni is one of the Arjuna's sons, he has a very strong natural power and clever since his birth. Above all, he is honest, he would tell the truth to everybody and he is very obedient to Pandawa and Dewa.

Upon their instruction, he would carry it, even if he has to lose his life.

DALANG (The Puppet Master or The Story Teller)

After deciding the title of wayang story, a dalang (puppet master), a dalang to perform the show must be appointed. Dalang position is very important, as he is the leader of the performance. Sometimes dalang could be chosen first, afterwards a consultation with him could be held to choose an appropriate title.

Dalang comes from the words juru udalan (juru : an expert, a skillful man - udalan abbreviated to dalan, then becomes dalang means to tell stories), so dalang is a story teller.

Dalang is an overall artist. He must have a broad knowledge of several disciplines of arts, such as :

1. Mastering deeply the stories of wayang Ramayana as well as Mahabharata, knows the characters of wayang figures.
2. Having a thorough knowledge of Javanese philosophy and moral ethics, as Javanese philosophy and moral ethics are inter-connected, or might be almost similar.
3. Having an accurate information in many aspects of life in the country (or even internationally in this era of information and globalization).
4. Having a good and clear voice, as he has to imitate about 50 (fifty) wayang figures with different voices. He has to explain every occasion, which has or should happened. And he has also to perfectly master the language 'high' and 'ordinary' used in dialogue, song and narration. He has to be a good singer, as he has to sing a lot during a performance.
5. Having the ability of preparing the scenario, so that plot of stories should flow smoothly, in accordance with standard patterns.
6. He has to know gamelan (Javanese musical instruments) used to accompany the show. He has also the capacity of a conductor as he should command the gamelan music; when it should begin and stop, and he should ask the gamelan crew what kind of music or song to be played.
7. He has to lead the chorus of pesinden (women singers), usually consists of three to five singers and wira swara (male singers).
8. He has to be skillful to move the puppets attractively.
9. He has to know how to make good jokes, at the sametime advising the audience unnoticeably.

This part of play occurred at midnight at the Goro-goro episode, which last about one hour. During that time the Ponokawan appears. At most occasion the dalang plays a role as mouthpiece of the sponsors. In a performance organized by Agency of Family Planning, he should arise the topics of Family Planning. In front of the arm forces or police forces, he should speak of leadership and discipline. Before an audience in university he should speak of knowledge, good conduct and the goals of life.

In the village, he should speak about the spirit of cooperation, development and any topics, which should give optimism to the villagers. The topics might be different, but here are similarities; he should tell it jokingly, interrupted by many songs, sung by the pesinden - women singers, accompanied by gamelan music. He should insert some advises on morality, hard working and every deed must be conducted properly not hurting other's feeling, not breaking the laws, especially the highest law such as the law of God.

Generally the Goro-goro time is full of laughters and musics, which make the audience happy and entertained.

Last but not least a dalang must be a healthy man or woman (nowadays, there are some women dalang), with a good physical endurance because dalang has to sit cross legged for eight hours on a mat to perform wayang.

The STAGE

It is needed to accommodate the performance, sometimes it is an elevated stage around 0,5 to 1 meter higher than audience's chairs.

On stage there is a white cotton screen illuminated by blencong (an oil lamp, hangs above the dalang), nowadays, a spotlight is used. From behind the scene, some audience watch the performance. They see the shadow of the puppets. Shadow in Javanese is wayang, from here the words of wayang kulit come. The mass of the audience sits in front of the screen to watch the wayang played by dalang.

On the right and left side of dalang, the wayang figures were arranged stuck to a banana tree poles. And at the left and right ends of the screen, banquets of bananas and leaves tree are decorated. Behind dalang the gamelan music instruments are arranged and played by the wiyogo (gamelan players).

The chorus of some pesinden (woman singers) as well as male singers are sitting there too. Next to the left side of dalang, there is a wooden box used by dalang to beat his instruments. The 'keprak', several pieces of small size iron plates hit by dalang by using right foot. From time to time, dalang during narration hit the wooden box with his hand by a 'cempolo' (wooden mallet).

The SHOW

The gunungan (from gunung : mountain) or kekayon, a mountain like leather puppet has an important part in wayang performance. Symbolizing the power of life of the creator, gunungan is used to begin the play, change one scene to other or imagine wind, obstacles, mountain, clouds or seas.

Before commencing wayang performance, a set of traditional offerings have been prepared with incense burning, a prayer to God Almighty is said in the hope the wayang performance should be conducted safely and the message should be accepted by the audience.

The pattern of wayang show begins with court audience, followed by a battle between a ksatria and giants (buto) lead by Buto Cakil. The ksatria wins the battle by killing Buto Cakil, it's symbolizing that every good efforts should end successfully after eliminating the obstacles.

Then, the appearance of the famous Ponokawan, which is very comical and full of laughter, songs and music. Nowadays, some guest stars such as local famous singers and jokers might take part in the interlude made the show livelier.

Followed by some meeting and decisive battles until morning. At the end a wooden puppet (in javanese Golek) is played by dalang. The word golek means to search, in that case the audience is requested to search, the meaning of the story which has been performed the whole night. Gunungan is stuck in the middle of the screen.

Lessons from Wayang Kulit Performance

1. On the top, it's a lesson of morality, honesty, truth should win against evil.
2. One has to choose what to do in accordance with his own belief.

* Kumbakarna has to choose to fight despite Rahwana's sinful deeds, not to defend his brother but to defend his country. "Right or wrong is my country".
* Wibisana, he chooses to defend the absolute truth. A sin committed by his own brother - the king, must be condemned. He decides to join Rama, the right side.

3. It is reflecting events in life.

* One must work hard decently before attaining his goals.
* Lust of material wealth should bring disaster to other people and at the end should ruin his own life.
* Love affaires exist since ancient time. But do not follow the wrong examples, such as the one between Begawan Wisrawa and Sukesi, Rahwana's parents.

4. Life Purification.
A king gives up his own crown, goes to solitude and lives as a Begawan to meditate, purifying his soul to reach a true holiness.
5. Everyone is longing to live in a just (adil) and prosperous (makmur) society, in the safe, peaceful and secured situation with the blessing of God Almighty.

Posted by zeeya at 06:56 | Permalink | Comments