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THE INDONESIA’S Consulate General in Mumbai with the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace held a virtual puppet show “Gana Kalajaya” or Bathara Ganesha, which took place on Saturday, September 25, 2021 with the aim of promoting Indonesian tourism in India and the world.
The performance was witnessed by 10,000 viewers from India, Indonesia and various other countries through Zoom and YouTube channels and supported by the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The performance began with a typical Keraton dance, Bedaya Sang Amurwa Bumi, followed by remarks from the Indonesian Consul General in Mumbai and Guests of Honor from the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Protocol of the Maharashtra State Government.
The event was opened by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X by presenting a virtual performance of Wayang Orang “Gana Kalajaya” which was witnessed by various groups in India, Indonesia and various other countries.
Indonesian Consul General in Mumbai Agus Prihatin Saptono in a written statement in Jakarta, Sunday (9/26), said the virtual show collaboration was an ongoing effort to promote Indonesian tourism to the people of India and the world, which this time raised Yogyakarta’s tourism potential as a destination. Excellence Beyond Bali, while at the same time highlighting the similarities and uniqueness of the cultural heritage of Indonesia and India.
“This activity is also intended to encourage art, culture and art organizers who have been forced to stop their activities for the past two years as a result of the multidimensional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. All parties are trying to adapt to these conditions while continuing to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” he said.
Wayang Orang “Gana Kalajaya” is a special creation of Ngarso Dalem Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace, specifically to be shown in September, along with the month of Ganesh Chaturti celebrations in India, especially in the Maharashtra region.
Minister of Tourism, Environment and Protocol of the State Government of Maharashtra Aaditya Thackeray in his speech expressed his joy with the initiative of the Indonesian Consul General in Mumbai to create an interesting show, not only showing the close cultural relationship between India and Indonesia, but also highlighting stories that have caught the attention of the Indian community, Gana. Kalajaya, which tells the story of Lord Ganesha.
He hopes to collaborate in the future on similar activities and hopes that tourist visits can increase in both countries.
Meanwhile, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X in his speech said that the event reminded him of the celebration of six decades of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and India which was held in Yogyakarta in November 2011 with activities to build cultural dialogue between nations around the equator in partnership with India.
The Wayang Orang Gana Kalajaya is Adiluhung’s work based on Javanese cultural figures and arts that are influenced by India. The similarities between Indonesian and Indian cultures, although there are similarities in style and stories, always have differences because they adapt to the social and cultural conditions of their respective communities.
Through the virtual performance of the Wayang Orang “Bathara Gana Kalajaya” it is hoped that it will further strengthen relations between Indonesia and India, as well as improve people-to-people contact and Indian tourist visits to Indonesia in the future. [antaranews]
