Wayang Golek artwork

.Many people think that puppets originated from India because the well-known and frequently played sources of the story are the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. However, there is no evidence to show this, and even after conducting further research, wayang experts have concluded that wayang is an original Indonesian creation. Wayang Kulit has emerged as an ancient tradition which is only played at night with the help of blencong light (a type of kerosene-fueled lighting device). Then in 1583, the Wayang Golek was born. Initially, Sunan Kudus introduced wooden puppets as an alternative to performances that could be played during the day. The wooden puppets were later developed into West Java's typical Wayang Golek. In the early days of its appearance, the form of wayang resembles a human figure. But after the arrival of Islam, the form of wayang changed because Islam forbade its adherents to create objects that were very similar to humans. So the puppet changes its shape into a kind of creature whose shape is actually still similar to the human form, but the body parts are deliberately made out of proportion but still represent a special character. In the Wayang Golek performance, it is the puppeteer who describes the feelings of the puppets he is playing, as well as tells of the plays that are being played.

The play that is played can be in the form of a splinter story (excerpt from the source story) or carangan (a story that is an improvisation of the puppeteer during a performance) or directly using source stories such as Mahabharata and Ramayana. When using splinter or carangan stories, usually Wayang Golek shows only take place in four or five storylines, with a duration of a matter of hours. But if you use the source story, the duration can be up to a full night, with a more complex storyline. There are many values ​​that can be conveyed or learned from the plays played in the Wayang Golek performance, including about loyalty, honor and favors. In a Wayang Golek performance, usually around 20-30 puppets are played. And those who often appear and are already known to the public are Arjuna, Pandawa Lima, Cepot, Gatotkaca, Bima, Rahwana, and the Kauravas. Meanwhile, puppeteers favored by puppet show lovers are Asep Sunarya, Ade Sunarya, Dede Amung. That is because these puppeteers have special skills in playing wayang, so they are able to tell plays that are interspersed with humor and are communicative with the audience. [TimIndonesiaExploride / IndonesiaKaya]