Badung
The Center of Tourism
Wayang Wong of Sidan Hamlet to Perform
at BAF
The sacred art of
Badung Regency will be performed on the
Thursday 30 June on the stage of the 27th
Bali Arts Festival (BAF) is a drama-dance
Wayang Wong from Sidan Hamlet, Belok Sidan
Village, Petang sub district. 87 households
of the local village will support this
event. They have often made performances
at the BAF, and for this occasion, will
present the storyline entitled “Kerebut
Kumbakarna” a sequel of the Ramayana
epic.
The presentation that takes some 2 hours
is planned to take place in Gianyar as
a part of the BAF 2005 calendar. “For
that purpose, we now carry out intensive
exercise,” said I Ketut Margayasa
(45), one of the caretakers of the troupe.
The dance-drama wayang wong that originated
from Sidan Hamlet, a village some 58 km
to the north of Denpasar, is a sacred
art. “Nobody knows when the art that
is now categorized as extinct was founded
in our village. However, the customary
villagers of Sidan believe that this wayang
wong has a power that can provide prosperity
to our villagers,” he added.
Every temple festival at Village Temple
of Sidan customary village is celebrated
every year, on Purnamaning Kelima (full
moon in November 2005), will perform this
art. Likewise, at every tumpek wayang
(special celebration for the art), they
will stage it at Pura Dalem (temple of
the mighty one). In the meantime, on Anggara
Kasih Perangbakat, all wayang paraphernalia
are given ritual a ceremony, but without
performance.
According to the husband of Ni Wayan Krani,
Sidan this customary village has many
kinds of masks, but the most made sacred
is the mask of Ravana (Ratu Gede). The
people of Sidan believe that Ratu Gede
has magic power. It is frequently proved
by the recovery from illnesses suffered
by village members after having vowed
at the temple where the Ratu Gede abides.
“When Ratu Gede goes out, an offerings
in the form of segehan agung must be put.
The Ratu Gede mask is different from other
masks. It has a smooth surface, imperishable
color and is never refurbished. We just
replace its costume, while other masks
were once redecorated around 1960, 1987
and 2001 as they are damaged or eaten
by insects,” he explained.
I Ketut Margayasa added, pertaining to
the performance at BAF, his group will
not present the sacred masks, except for
its duplicates that resemble the original
ones. “On the presentation at BAF,
Ratu Gede will not be brought along. However,
it will remain to be taken out or medal,”
he said.
The father of three sons said that, in
the past, at the first performance at
BAF, he presented the sacred masks, apart
for that of Ratu Gede. As a result, one
of the dancers experienced a trance when
the presentation was in progress. The
dancer who was in a half-conscious state
uttered the companion of Ratu Gede might
not be taken out other than at the temple.
Since then, the troupe agreed to make
a duplicate that is specially staged at
the BAF or apart from rituals at temples.
“Therefore, we have no burden when
making this presentation by duplicate
masks,” he admitted.
(BTN/015)
