The Graceful Steps in Prambanan

Coming to Central Java is not complete without visiting Prambanan Temple. Located in Jogjakarta, the center of Javanese culture and its exotic art, Prambanan Temple is the biggest Hindu Temple site in Indonesia.

My friends and I arrived in the afternoon. Prambanan Temple was full of visitors, just like always. I started walking around and looking for a nice spot to wait for the sunset. Beautiful pictures of Prambanan Temple are everywhere to be found, but I couldn't keep my urge to portray its glory in the midst of golden light.

After posing together with the temple, we left for having dinner, preparing an extra energy for the night show. Yup, we were back to the temple to watch the Ramayana Ballet. It was adapted from a Hindu epic poem and mixed with Javanese music and cultural style. We were on the right side of the stage. There was just some viewers below my seat, so I sneaked until close enough to the stage ( all I've got back then and until now are a lens kit 18-55 mm and a tripod. And that was a large stage, hiks ).  

It began with Sinta, the wife of Prince Rama, was abducted by giant Rahwana because of her beauty and she was believed as the reincarnation of Rahwana's former lover. Rama saved her wife with the help from Hanoman, the white monkey. The dance was slowly getting intense till the climax of story, showing Hanoman succeeded burning Rahwana's kingdom and Rama won the fight against Rahwana.

Silhouette of A Temple

The Beautiful Sinta 

Prince Rama received the help from Hanoman, White Monkey 

Sugriwa, The Monkey King, joined Hanoman for the rescue
  

The Action of Hanoman

Hanoman burnt down Rahwana's Kingdom 

Rama sent his brother Laksmana for the fight against Rahwana

Rahwana beat the monkey troops with his mighty power
( this is my favourite scene )

Rama's beating down on of Rahwana's alliance.

It was a massive performance on an open air theatre with more than 200 crews total and Prambanan Temple as the background. It was quite windy that night but the heat on the stage made me didn't feel cold at all ! And I still can rewind the graceful steps of the dancers in my mind.

*taken on August 2012, copyright: Dian Permatasari

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