This puppet represents the Golden Deer from the Hindu epic, the Ramayana in the Balinese 'wayang kulit' or leather shadow puppet theatre tradition. Maricha, the demon, assumes the guise of the deer in order to distract Ramadewa (Rama) and Laksmana (Lakshmana) away from Dewi Sita (Sita). The Ramayana relates the struggle of Rama and his brother Laksmana (Lakshamana) in the rescue of his wife, Dewi Sita, from the ogre king Rawana (Ravana).The majority of the 'wayang kulit' plays performed are drawn from the two great Hindu epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana as well as local stories. 'Wayang kulit' in Bali is like traditionally performed in temples, although today more likely to be viewed as entertainment for tourists.
