Originally the ketchak was a choir of men who by their litanies cooperated with the Sanghyang 

 girl that was to be put into a trance. The intention of any Sanghyang (trance) performance was that the 

 eirl while in a state of trance (semi-consciousness) would be capable of hearing ard telling the wishes 

 of the go3s or of the ancestors. 



At present this ketchak is also performed with a special story (libretto). This story has been chosen 

 from the Ramayana saga. Very condensed, the contents of the Ramayana saga are as follows : 



By intrigue Rama, the legal heir to the throne of Ayodhya, is exiled from the realm of his father 

 Dasaratha. Accompanied by his wife Sita and his younger brother Laksamana he moves from his fathers 

 palace and goes into the forest. Here he goes through many adventures and finally he is chasing the 

 deer with the golden horns. At a certain moment his wife Sita remains alone without protection. Then 

 she is kidnaped by the followers of Rawana, the king of the demons. After that, Rama with the assis- 

 tance of the army of monkeys, under the command of Hanuman, attacks the residence of Rawana. called 

 Lengkapura (Ceylon). 



The monkeys are building a weir of bridge between Hindustan and Lengkapura and the battle 

 ends with the victory of Rama. Some episodes from this saga are represented in the dance of the prin- 

 cipal figures : 



1. After the departure of Rama. Sita is speaking to his younger brother Laksamana. Sita orders him to go 

 and help Rama who has persued the deer with the golden horns, because Sita hears a call for help, think- 

 ing it is Rama, who calls for help. 



2. Sita, already kidnaped by Rawana. is staying at a bower in his palace. There she is visited by Rawana, 

 who asks her hand for marriage. She then burst all into tears. 



3. Rama marches out to Lengkapura to rescue Sita, his wife. He meets Meganada, Rawanas son and be- 

 comes involved in a combat with the demon. Meganada shoots his arrow, which turns into a serpant and 

 ties Rama up like a rope. 



i Rama tied up, beseeches the gods to help him. Then Wishnu's bird, Garuda, is sent to free Rama. 



5. Hanuman, the king of the monkey talks with his generals and mobiltaes his army for a battle against 

 Lengkapura. The performance ends with the battle-scene between the army of Hanuman (monkeys) 

 and the army of Rawana (Rakshashas or demons). 



N.V. Travel Bureau ..BALITOUR" 



Dcnpasar ( Bali ) 



si Upi ;»* 



