A Balinese Hindu temple mask dance, the Wayang Wong is a depiction of the epic Ramayana story, telling the story of the defeat of the evil King Rawana of Alengka (Ceylon) by Rama and the monkey army. Only a small part of the story is presented and a small gong provides the accompaniment. Wayang Wong, which translates to shadow men, is a human dramatization of the Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet) show, wherein the dancers imitate the jerky movements of the puppets. The narrated dialogue of the main characters, Rama, Sita, Hanuman, Rawana etc. is spoken ancient Javanese. The panasar clowns, Twalen and Merdah, servants of Rama, and Delem and Sangut, servants of Rawana, bring comic relief as they help the audience to understand by speaking in the vernacular.

Rama, reincarnation of the God Vishnu, represents the spiritual world, and his loyal wife, Sita, represents the material world. Rawana, the demon king, embodies greed and selfishness.