Magelang provides a new tourist attraction in its famous Borobudur Temple. A Kidung Karmawibangga sendratari (dance-drama) dance will be performed on the second Saturday of every month at Borobudur Temple Tourism Park in Magelang, Central Java province. “[It is] performed on an open stage at Borobudur Temple’s Lumbini Park,” the founder of Brata Penangkaran Borobudur Foundation, Sucoro said on Saturday. The Brayat Penangkaran Foundation organizes the sendratari performance in cooperation with Borobudur Temple Tourism Park. The show was launched last Saturday. The launch attracted both local and foreign tourists who entered the temple compound. They were seen watching the sendratari performed by around 120 dancers and gamelan musicians. Eight art groups have prepared themselves to perform sendratari telling the story inspired by Karmawibangga stone carvings at the Borobudur Temple, Sucoro said. According to Sucoro, the members of the groups have the background in traditional art, such as kuda lumping, soreng, topeng ireng (black mask), jatilan, lengger, badut (clown) and tuyulan. They comprise of men, women, elderly, youngsters, and children.

Sucoro said that they have created three stories for Kidung Karmawibangga sendratari: “Prahara Bumi Shambarabudara”, “Kisah Asmara di Bukit Karmawibangga”, dan “Pangeran Bajang”. The stories carry universal messages relevant for humanity, as depicted by Karmawibangga stone carvings on the walls of Borobudur Temple base floor. ANTARA