“This is their first show in Bali. They also performed at an art festival in Solo [Central Java] a few days ago and will return to India after performing in Bali,” Sharma said.

The group also performed folk and classical dances during the annual Bali Arts Festival at the Art Center, Denpasar.

Sharma said the center invited the Indian performers since the Kathakali had never been presented in Bali, providing an opportunity for cultural exchange.

“This rich art form from India is really a new thing for the Balinese people. India and Indonesia have signed a cultural exchange agreement. This is one of the activities under that scheme,” he said, adding that a group of Indonesians artists would perform the Ramayana in India in the near future.

An audience of dozens of local residents and foreigners were on hand to watch the 90-minute show.

In white costumes, the dancers came on stage to perform three scenes of the Duryodhana Vadham created by Vayaskhara Aryan Narayanan Moosad.

The first scene told the story of Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, and Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Krishna was about to go to Duryodhana’s palace when Draupadi arrived. She deplored the idea of any settlement with the Kauravas, and reminded Krishna of the curse she levied on Dussasana, the second of the Kauravas.

He assured her that everything would turn out as she wished, as Duryodhana would never agree to an honorable settlement.

The second scene featured Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, Krishna and Dussasana.

Duryodhana was in his royal surrounded by his counselors and told them that Krishna would arrive shortly, but no one should show him any respect as he was coming to plead for the Pandavas.

He departed, and when Krishna arrived, the whole assembly rose in adoration and offered homage to him.

Krishna told Dhritarashtra of the purpose of his visit and he in turn advised Duryodhana to obey Krishna.

He left and Krishna delivered Dharmaputra’s message.

Duryodhana, however, was not prepared for any agreement with the Pandavas. He questioned their parentage and Krishna retorted that Duryodhana’s origins were also dubious.

Unable to stand the insult, Duryodhana ordered Dussasana to bind Krishna, whereupon Krishna showed his Viswarupa (the cosmic form of Vishnu) and dazzled Duryodhana and Dussasana, who fell to the ground.

Mumukshu, a pious Brahmin, appeared, praising Krishna and advising Duryodhana to obey Krishna. Krishna departs. War was now inevitable.

In the last scene, to enable Bhima to fulfill Draupadi’s curse on Dussasana, Krishna gave him special powers. Bhima appeared in a terrifying form called Roudra Bhima, blazing with anger, as he searched for his number one enemy, Dussasana.

He found Dussasana and a fierce battle occurred. After killing Dussasana, Bhima drank his blood out of his entrails and roared.

Bhima summoned Draupadi to the battlefield, so that she could see what had happened to Dussasana, and tied her hair, his hands dripping with his enemy’s blood.

Vengeance was thus complete. Krishna now appeared before Bhima, who prayed to him for forgiveness for his outrageous behavior. Krishna forgave him and blessed him.

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