Indonesian Hindu Religious Theater Puppet: "Wayang Golek"
Collection: Spiritual Connections
Object Category: Religious Items
Object Type: Puppets, Religious Art
Country: Indonesia
Continent: Asia
Geographic Region: Southeastern Asia
width: 6 in;
height: 28 in;
depth: 6 in
This Indonesian rod puppet is a character in the wayang golek theater. The puppet represents the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.
The Wayang golek theater is the traditional drama of Java and Bali, in Indonesia. The puppet performance tells stories from the two Indian Hindu epic poems, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The function of the theater is to educate as well as amuse, by portraying good and evil, with good always triumphing, although evil is never destroyed.
Source:
http://education.asianart.org/explore-resources/background-information/major-indonesian-rod-puppet-wayang-golek-character-types