At the Mamit CS Betawi Studio in Kampung Ondel-Ondel, craftsman Abdul Halif, 39, was hard at work creating the puppet.
The studio was founded by his father in 1984.
“We always say, ‘if the Chinese people have Barongsai, Betawi people have Barongan’. But since Benyamin Sueb’s Ondel-Ondel song came out, people have been calling (the puppets) ondel-ondel,” said Mr Abdul Halif.
Barongsai is the Indonesian word for the traditional Chinese lion dance.
To make the giant puppets, Mr Abdul Halif said that materials needed include wires, raffia rope, bamboo, fiberglass as well as cloth.
“If the sun is not stinging (hot), it can take up to five days to finish one ondel-ondel mask,” he said, referring to the laborious process of crafting and drying the part.
Source: CNA
