Epic of the Ramayana

 Kecak Dance is a religious ritual in which the famous Hindu epic Ramayana, which you will remember from literature classes, is performed in the form of theater and dance. An interesting activity to understand how religion and art interact in Bali. At the same time, seeing such a different form of artistic expression is one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have. However, some people may start to get bored after the first 10-15 minutes of the show. 🙂

It would be very helpful to have some preliminary knowledge of the Epic of the Ramayana in order to more easily follow what is going on in the show:

Epic of the Ramayana

In the epic, Prince Rama marries Sida. Unfortunately, his father exiles Rama just before he ascends to the throne, because of a promise he made earlier. He goes to live in the forest, taking his wife and brother Lakshman with him.

Ravana, the king of demons, watches Sida in the forest and is captivated by her beauty. He makes up his mind to kidnap Rama. Ravana asks his right arm to disguise Rama and his brother as a golden deer to drive away from Sida's surroundings. While chasing the deer, Lakshman draws a protective circle around Sida and tells her not to leave this circle. Meanwhile, Ravana, disguised as a beggar, approaches Sida and asks her for something to drink. Sida, who came out of the circle to give water to the beggar, is kidnapped.

For 10 months Ravana tries to seduce Sida. Rama and his brother are looking for Sida. Monkeys and bears also join the search. Monkey King Hanuman smuggled into the palace where Sida was imprisoned and brought Rama's ring to show that Rama is alive and has not stopped looking for him.

Bears and monkeys build a bridge so that Rama can cross into the demonic kingdom of Ravana surrounded by water. In the ensuing battle, Lakshman is wounded. Hanuman also goes to the Himalayas to bring her medicinal herbs. Ravana is killed and Sida is rescued, but Rama is not convinced that Sida has been loyal to him all this time (Women are always responsible for men's nonsense...). On top of that, Sida throws herself into the flames to prove her love. The flames turn into flowers and Sida is acquitted.

When and Where to Watch Kecak Dance in Ubud

Uluwatu Temple is the most impressive place to watch the Kecak Dance, but as Ubud is Bali's cultural center, you can catch the show at many other places.