Sendratari Ramayana
While in Yogyakarta we attend a performance of the Ramayana at the Prambanan Temple. Adapted from the original Indian epic, it now has a definite Javanese character as it has been adopted for the performing arts. Since the 1960s, hundreds of dancers have brought the temple to life at Prambanan's open - air theater, located just west of the temple complex. Essentially, a traditional dance drama minus the lengthy dialogue, the Ramayana Ballet or "Sendratari" - an acronym composed of the Indonesian words of art, drama and dance is presented under a tropical moon with the magnificent floodlit Roro Jonggrang Temple as a backdrop.

SYNOPSIS OF RAMAYANA BALLET

Introduction

Prabu Janaka, the King of Mantili Kingdom has a very beautiful princess named Dewi Shinta. A competition is conducted in order to decide who will be the right person to marry her. Rama Wijaya, The Prince of Ayodya Kingdom at last wins the competition.

Prabu Rahwana, the ruler of Alengkadiraja Kingdom is eager to marry Dewi Widowati. but after knowing Dewi Shinta he changes his mind since he assumes that Dewi Shinta is the incarnation of Dewi Widowati whom he has been searching for a long time.

Dandaka Forest

Rama Wijaya along with his wife Shinta and accompanied by his younger brother Leksmana arrive in Dandaka Forest. Unfortunately they meet Rahwana - who adored Dewi Shinta. Rahwana becomes eager to possess her, and in order to realize his goal, Rahwana commutes one of his followers named Marica to a deer called Kijang Kencana so as to attract Shinta. Being interested in the beauty of the deer, Shinta asks Rama to capture it for her. Rama leaves Shinta accompanied by Leksmana and starts hunting for the deer. After waiting for a long time, Shinta becomes nervous as Rama has not returned yet. She asks Leksmana to look for Rama. Before leaving Shinta alone, Leksmana draws a magic circle on the ground just to protect her from any possible danger. As soon as Rahwana notices that Shinta has been left alone, he tries to kidnap her but fails because of the magic circle which protects her life. Then he changes himself to an old Brahmana. Shinta feels pity for the old Brahmana and leaves the magic circle. As a result Rahwana takes her and flies away to Alengka Kingdom.

Running after the Deer

Rama shoots the deer with the bow and arrow, but the deer converts to a giant. A battle breaks out between Rama and the giant. The giant is shot to death by Rama's arrow. Later Leksmana arrives and requests Rama to return to Shinta's place.

The Kidnap of Shinta

On the way to Alengka, Rahwana meets a garuda bird called Jatayu. They fight each other since Jatayu knows that Rahwana kidnapped Dewi Shinta - the princess of Prabu Janaka, his friend. Unfortunately Jatayu was defeated by Rahwana in his efforts to release her from Rahwana. Finding out that Shinta is not in her place, Rama and Leksmana decide to search for her. On the way they meet Jatayu who is seriously wounded. At first Rama thinks that Jatayu has kidnapped Shinta so he decides to kill him but Leksmana prevents him from doing so. Jatayu explains what has happened to Shinta before he dies of his wounds.

A moment later, a white monkey named Hanuman arrives. He is delegated by his uncle, Sugriwa to look for two heroes who are able to kill Subali. Subali is a sacred man and has taken Dewi Tara, Sugriwa's beloved woman. At last Rama decides to help Sugriwa.

Kiskendo Cave

Dewi Tara and her son are chatting when suddenly Sugriwa arrives and attacks Subali. Then Sugriwa helped by Rama defeats Subali. Sugriwa takes Dewi Tara with him again. For Rama's kindness, Sugriwa decides to help him in searching for Dewi Shinta. For this purpose Sugriwa delegates Hanoman to find and investigate the Alengka Kingdom.

Argasoka Garden

Rahwana's niece, Trijata is comforting Shinta in the garden. Rahwana arrives to ask Shinta's willingness to be his wife. Shinta refuses and this makes him angry and he tries to kill her but Trijata prevents this and tells him to be patient. Trijata promises to look after Shinta. Shinta feels so sad, but suddenly she hears a beautiful song sung by Hanoman, the white monkey. Hanoman tells her that he is sent by Rama to help her escape. After he explains his purpose, Hanoman he attempts to find out the total power of the Alengka army. Then he destroy the garden. Indrakit. Rahwana's son successfully captures Hanoman but Kumbokarno prevents him and is thrown out of the kingdom. Hanoman is sentenced to death by burning but instead Hanoman is able to set himself free and burn the kingdom with the fire from his body. As soon as he burns the Kingdom, Hanoman comes to Rama and explains what has happened. Rama then goes to Alengka along with his monkey's army. He attacks the Kingdom and places the Alengka's army in a difficult position because Indrajit - the leader of the army is killed. Since the army doesn't have a leader Rahwana orders Kumbokarno-the wise giant to be the leader of the army and fights for the Alengka Kingdom. But then Kumbokarno is killed by Rama's heirloom arrow. Rahwana takes over the army and starts to attack Rama and his soldiers. Rama also kills him at last. His corpse is put under the mountain of Sumawana carried by Hanoman.

Rama Meets Shinta

After the death of Rahwana, Hanoman takes Shinta to meet Rama. But Rama refuses her because he thinks that she is not pure anymore. Shinta is disappointed and to prove her faithfulness to her husband she jumps into a fire and burns herself. Because of her holiness and God's help she is not burnt. That makes Rama happy and he finally accepts her to be his wife again.

... and there you have it ... Ramayana Java style.