The Secret of Wayang Kulit

A fire burns behind a see-through screen as the melodic music of gamelan is played. The light dims but the small fire continues to burn, a loud clanking of wood signals the start of the show. Something flutters against the screen – a blurred image moving in time to the music. The image suddenly becomes clear as all the other puppets appear. This is Wayang Kulit. 'Wayang' means shadow and 'Kulit' means leather. There are 140 characters in 'Mahabarata,' which is one of the Hindu epics and is the most popular story portrayed with Wayang Kulit. There are four types of Wayang shows: 1.Wayang Calonarang, which tells the story about the witch and the queen of witches.

The Balinese believe that when the Dalang (puppet master) calls the Leyak which is like an evil spirit or demon that he must be mentally and spiritually strong enough to confront the spirit or it may harm him: 2. Tantri uses animal characters that act like humans and deal with political or moral issues: 3. Gambuh is about the ancient kingdom of Java around the 11th century: 4. Cupak, who was the son of Brahma.

I watched a retelling of the popular show, "The Sacrifice of Bima" and afterwards sought out Mr. Wayan Deres, who is the puppet master or Dalang. In addition to being the performer, Wayan also makes puppets and is a wood carver; a true artist. He is quite humble, as in truth it is very difficult to be a Dalang, because a Dalang must be able to do many voices. He is the only person who controls the puppets' actions. He must also remember the story and be able to play the music. Before every show, they are required to carry out a ceremony to ask permission from God who will guide them so they can do things in the right way; blessings are also made for the puppets.
'Wayang Kulit' puppets are made by scraping the hide until it is thin and even, and then it is cured so it won't warp. The puppet maker uses a template or guide and scratches the outline and details into the hide. He cuts the body out along with separate pieces for the arms. The details are then punched with a wooden mallet and sets of metal punches and chisels. In a fine puppet this can take weeks.

Of course Wayang Kulit is not complete without Gamelan music. In Balinese Gamelan there are mostly metallophones and gongs. The sound is very bright. They also use cymbals, which create fast, rattling sounds that are not typical in Javanese Gamelan. It is believed that each instrument is guided by spirits. Thus, musicians must remove their shoes when they play Gamelan. It is also forbidden to step over any Gamelan instrument, because it may offend the spirits. In Indonesian traditional thinking, Gamelan is sacred and is believed to have super-natural powers. Incense and flowers are usually offered to the Gamelan. Some Gamelan instruments are believed to have so much power that playing them may exert power over nature. It is the blending of Wayang Kulit, which dates back to 1019 and Gamelan that creates a rich cultural experience that is truly unforgettable.