Bali : Kecak Dances


Kecak dances is the most unique Balinese dance which is not accompanied by orchestra/gambelan but by choir of seventy men it has its origin in an old ritual dances, ‘ Sanghyang or trance dance. In Sanghyang dance a person in a state of trance communicate with deities and ancestors. Using the dancers as a medium the deities and ancestors convey their wishes. In 1930’s the old Ramayana was included into the dances. Briefly the story runs as follows :

Due to wise prince of Ayodya Rama the legal heir to the throne of Ayodya was exilied from the realm of his father Dasarata, accompanied by his wife and his younger brother Laksmana they went into A forest called Dandaka .While they are in the forest the demon king Rahwana found them and lusted after the beautiful Sita, accompanied by his prime minister Marica, they made a trick to steal Sita. Using his magic power Marica transform himself into golden deer. Disguised as a golden deer they succeed in luring Rama and Lasmana away from Sita. Rahwana making use of this opportunity, kidnapped Sita and took her to his palace Alengka. Discovering the deception Rama and Laksmana set out a rescue Sita from clutches of the demon king Rahwana assisted by huge army of monkeys under command of their king Hanoman. Rama succeed in getting his wife back safely.

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