UGM Holds All-Night Leather Puppet Show

Universitas Gadjah Mada will hold an all-night leather puppet show entitled “Wahyu Cakraningrat”. The performance presenting Ki Purbo Asmoro as the Puppeteer (Dalang) is part of the series of events to commemorate the 60th anniversary of UGM. The show will be held on Thursday, 17 December 2009 starting from 20.00 P.M until dawn at Balairung, UGM Central Office.
 
“We intentionally choose the story of Wahyu Cakraningrat because it has religious values and advice for the young generation of this campus, who will become the next leaders,” said Prof. Timbul Haryono, the professor of Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM on Tuesday (15/12).  
 
The traditional art event held on the night of 1 Muharram has both religious aspects and hope for the academic community that they can grasp from the story.
 
Cakraningrat is basically a message for the young campus generation  who will become leaders in the future. It is hoped that they can learn from the characters of Abimanyu, Lakhsmana Mandrakumara and Samba, but not all of those knights get the ‘revelation’ in their life journey. “Abimanyu is Arjuna’s son. They represent the young generation who will lead this country,” said this newly retired professor from Faculty of Cultural Sciences.
 
Ki Purbo Asmoro  from the Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) Yogyakarta explained the story of ‘Wahyu Cakraningrat’ which tells about Abimanyu and Sembadra who are concerned with the chaotic world, life degradation, and loss of humanism. “He wants to do something to reduce social burden, alleviate poverty and fix the world,” said the puppeteer who has performed in many cities in USA, the UK and Greece.

Separately, Prof. Sutaryo, Chair of Academic Senate of UGM, said that the show would be suitable with the philosophy of the university that serves as national hall of science and culture. Two important values: personality and be knowledegable are important for students currently studying.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of UGM, Drs. Djoko Moerdiyanto, M.A., added that ahead of 60th anniversary of UGM on 19 December 2009, award presentations to UGM academic community were also held on Wednesday, 16 December 2009, at Grha Sabha Pramana. “Two HB IX award 2009 recipients, Prof. Dr. Soekotjo and Dr. dr. Sudiharta will give scientific remarks at the Yogyakarta Palace on Saturday night, 19 December 2009,” explained Djoko Moerdiyanto.