SUSHMA JOSHI Kathmandu Post October 13-I am sitting under the full moon outside the Puri Saraswoti temple in Ubud, Bali. Behind the red doors of the performance stage is the temple of Saraswoti, the gracious patron of arts and music whose presence can be felt everywhere on this island. In front me sits Arjuna in full regalia and meditation. He (actually a she dressed as a he) is about to be distracted from his focused sitting by a boar, which has been sent by the Lord Shiva to shake him out of his deep meditation. The boar shakes poor Arjuna around, and even tries to grab his sword out of his sheath in the back—to no avail. The prince awakes and shoots the boar dead, and that ugly character staggers off the stage howling. I try to think about why the Balinese would choose this particular moment in the Mahabharata to immortalize through their song, dance and music. Surely, you think, there are a hundred other scenes more worthy of performance? What about Krishna’s immortal speech to A...
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