Divinities,
Demons, Kings and Clowns:
Puppetry of India and Southeast Asia
Curated by Kathy Foley with the assistance of Michael Schuster
Wayang kulit
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Mahabharata Scene, wayang parwa, by Dalang Nartha, Bali, l998.
The greedy Kurawa clan and their cousins, the righteous Pandawa, fight in the Great War, the Bharata Yudah. The Pandawa are abused and misused by their Kurawa cousins from childhood. After they have been tricked out of their kingdom, Astina, they are banished to the jungle for fourteen years. When they return and modestly demand only five villages as their share of the realm, but the Kurawa scorn their offer. Thus begins the long war in which all the great heroes of the Kurawa fall. The Pandawa brothers remain unscathed, but see their noble allies and their young sons slain.
Above is a scene of this story with Balinese wayang parwa puppets.
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