Women Kecak & Fire Dance Ramayana Epic
By Ubud Tengah Community
The poem is traditionally divided several major Kanda's or books, that the deal chronologically with the major events in the life of Rama.
The Books of Ramayana
Bala Kanda
Describes the birth of Rama, his childhood and marriage to Sita.
Ayodhya Kanda
Describes the preparations for Rama's coronation and his exile into the forest.
Aranya Kanda
Describes the forest life of Rama and the kidnapping of Sita by the demon king Rahwana.
Kishkinda Kanda
Describes the meeting of Hanoman with Rama, the destruction of the wenara king and the coronation of his younger brother Sugriwa to the kingdom of kishkinda.
Sundara Kanda
Narrates the heroism of Hanoman, his flight to Alengka and meeting with Sita.
Juddha Kanda
Describes the battle between Rama's and Rahwana's armies.
Utara Kanda
Birth of Lawa and Kushya to Sita, their coronation to the throne of Ayodhya, and Rama's final departure from the world.
Story
Rama Sita and lakshmana' journey southward along of the banks of river Godawari. Where they built cottages and lived off the land, at the Panchawati forest they are visited by a raksasa women, Surpanakha, the sister of Rahwana. She attempts to kill Sita. Lakshmana stops her by culting of her nose and ears. Hearing of this, her demon brother, Khara, organizes an attack against the princes. Rama annihilates Khara and his demons. And then Sita forcibly carried away by the evil Rahwana. Rama and laksmana meet Hanoman the gratest of monkey heroes: In exchange for helping Rama recover Sita. After learning about Sita, Hanoman assumes a gargantum form and makes a colossal leap across to the ocean to Alengka, Here Hanoman explores the demon's city and spies on Rahwana. He locates Sita in Ashoka grove, who is wooed and threatened by Rahwana and his rakshasis to marry Rahwana. He reassures her, giving Rama's signet ring as a sign of good faith. He offers to carry Sita back to Rama, however she refuse, reluctant to allow herself to be touched by a male other than her husband. She says that Rama himself must come and avenge the insult of her abduction. Hanoman then wreaks havoe in Alengka by destroying tress and buildings, and killing Rahwana's warrior.
Trance Dance
The shangyang is a God inspired dance of function of which is to protect society against evilforces and epidemics. It can take several from and the version here presented is the "Sanghyang Jaran Jaran meaning Horse. The horse rider is falling into trance by the repetitive sounds of the gamelan suara and in his tranced state he walks on bed of burning coconut husks responding to the rising and falling of the sounds of the Gamelan Suara.