[Original Dutch] Bengaalsche Comedie Batavia [end]
Indonesia has deep Hindu and Muslim cultural roots. The island of Bali, for example, remains largely Hindu. Hinduism preceded Islam in Indonesia and influenced the Muslim culture the did develop. It also ensured a long continuous economic and cultural tradition of interaction with the Indian subcontinent.
This image shows a Bengali theatrical group in Jakarta; they may have been a resident group, which is most likely, or regular visitors from Kolkata (Calcutta) in Bengal, India. The masked figures could have been devil dancers, a common Bengali dance type.
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