ABSTRACT
In the Cirebon cultural area of western Java’s north coast, a raft of ritual dramas for wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre) are sponsored regularly by rice farming villages and communities of fishermen. These ritual dramas occur in conjunction with communal rites that ensure the blessings of ancestors, repel malevolent spirits and pests, ensure fertility of crops and an abundant supply of fish, bring rain, and give thanks to spirits. While derived from animist beliefs, ritual dramas have been reinterpreted to accommodate Islamic symbolism and practices. In recent years, villages, flush with funds devolved to the village level due to decentralization, have expanded the scope of annual celebrations to include participatory elements, such as elaborate processions.
