The physical form of wayang puppets is also highly stylised and distinctive of Java.īut the resonance is loud. Only the way in which characters are spelled differs: Bhima becomes Bima, Sita is Sinta, and Hanuman morphs into Hanoman. Billboards for an energy drink, Kuku Bima, promise imbibers Bhima-like strength.Īmongst the country’s favourite forms of mass entertainment is wayang kulit, a form of shadow puppet theatre that features tales from the Hindu epics. An enormous statue of Krishna leading Arjuna into battle dominates the roundabout in front of Monas, Jakarta’s main nationalist monument. On the island of Java, home to the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, references to the Hindu epics of the Ramayana and Mahabharata are embedded in the language, on street signs, in political commentary and even on bus advertisements. Much looks and feels familiar, albeit in an off-kilter manner.
Jakarta: For an Indian, visiting Indonesia can feel like looking into a distorting mirror.
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