This puppet represents the character Gareng in the Javanese 'wayang kulit' or leather shadow puppet theatre tradition. Together with his brothers, Bagong and Petruk and their father Semar, they are generally known as the 'panakawan' or witty friends. Apart from providing comic relief, they serve as the wise friends and advisers of the noble characters in the 'wayang'.'The vast majority of the ‘wayang’ plays performed are drawn from the two great Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata with few stories of Javanese origin performed as a way of dealing with some mythic events.'Wayang kulit' is considered as the highest of the Javanese performing arts. Performed in the royal courts of Java as early as the ninth century, this tradition continues to be treasured as one of the pusaka or sacred heirlooms of the court. 'Wayang kulit' is traditionally performed on ritual days and religious ceremonies. It has also been adapted more recently for television and public education campaigns.
