23rd September 2022 – Persatuan Pedalangan Indonesia (Pepadi), or known as the Indonesian Puppeteers Association, is holding the 15th national Festival Dalang Anak in Kota Tua Jakarta, Taman Sari, West Jakarta. This wayang event will be held for three days, from Thursday (22/9) to Saturday (24/9).
Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, said that the wayang performance can be both a show and an educational one. According to him, an educational show is a rare thing which is why the Festival Dalang Anak is such a spectacular wayang show.
Wayang show can be a show that’s able to inform and help people in their everyday lives.
Wayang kulit and puppetry have such a long history that tells the stories of the past. Baswedan said that what Festival Dalang Anak doing right now is creating a future for puppetry in the country.
Head of the Central Pepadi, Tumiyono, said that the wayang performance is a journey of a culture that is reflected in this day. In the past, wayang plays a big role in civilisation. The reflections of one era on another era can be seen through this festival.
The puppeteer competition is for children under the age of 15. It is held in Plaza Taman Fatahilah, which is situated right in front of the Wayang Museum. On the first day, young puppeteers (dalang) performed on the stage in turns from the morning. There are rows of wayangs displayed neatly on the stage in front of a white screen. The puppeteers are accompanied by traditional singers and musicians on the big stage, most of them are children and teenagers.
Visitors of Kota Tua can watch the performances for free as this tourism area looks a little bit more packed and festive compared to other days. There are both locals and foreign tourists who can be found enjoying the wayang performances.
