Students of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program enliven the Wayang Kulit Performance “Banjaran Dwijawara” in UGM Anniversary Series

(Quoted form: https://www.youtube.com/live/FUj52vDhK4o?si=wA4cuiX-Lyz7KvEb)

In order to commemorate the anniversary, Universitas Gadjah Mada organizes various events and activities. One part of the series of events is a shadow puppet performance entitled "Banjaran Dwijawara." The performance is a collaboration between Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Banyumasan, and Timuran Java in one wayang performance. This event was held on Saturday, (16/12/2023) at Grha Sabha Pramana.

The play "Banjaran Dwijawara" is a biographical compilation of the career journeys of the characters Rama Bargawa, Resi Dorna, and Arjuna. These three characters are faced with various complex problems. Rama Bargawa deals with oligarchs who act arbitrarily; Resi Dorna faces the issue of inclusivity; and Arjuna is in the era of gender equality.

(Student Arts Family of Universitas Gadjah Mada. Quoted in full from: https://www.youtube.com/live/FUj52vDhK4o?si=wA4cuiX-Lyz7KvEb)

In its implementation, students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program participated in enlivening and succeeding the wayang performance. This participation was manifested in their role as a crew group, performers in the form of musicians and sinden, who are members of the Gadjah University Student Arts Family, to Muhammad Siswoyo, a 2022 student who became the puppeteer of the wayang kulit performance in the Javanese Timuran style.

(Handover of Arjuna puppet to Muhammad Siswoyo)

The play "Banjaran Dwijawara" is not just for entertainment, but also as a learning tool in the form of moral messages about how to behave and make decisions when facing a problem. In addition, this shadow puppet performance is also a place to introduce and preserve the art of shadow puppetry and its various gagraks, which are a form of cultural wealth in Indonesia. The introduction and preservation of Indonesian culture through this puppet show is in line with point four in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely improving the quality of education.