Wayang performances generally tell well-known old stories taken from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, or they may concern famous figures in Javanese history.An example of a popular figure in Javanese history is Airlangga (991-1049), who was born in Bali but came to Java and founded a kingdom there.Airlangga has since become deified, meaning that some people worship him as a powerful spiritual being who can intervene in their lives to help them.Airlangga fought back an invasion that some scholars believe could have been from the kingdom of Srivijaya.Following the classical Hindu-Buddhist tradition in Java, Airlangga then went into retreat in the forested area to meditate so as increase his power, after which he triumphantly returned.After death, his ashes were scattered on Mount Penanggungan, the sacred mountain-volcano in Bali. This was consistent with the idea that mountains are the resting residence of the deceased.His exploits are only some of the many narratives available to dalangs. Many dalangs may also bring in current-day local news, even if not religious, in a humorous form into the wayang performance.Although wayang performance is a kind of ritual, it is also entertainment.Wayang performances typically last all night until early dawn. During the night people have more free time, the air is cooler, and the darkness allows the dalang to utilize shadows from a lamp to create compelling silhouettes.The audience can sit on either side of the screen that the dalang uses, either to watch just the silhouettes or to watch the dalang and the accompanying gamelan orchestra.Wayang is an example of persistent adat, as it is utilized within an Islamic context but it originated from an earlier time.It is thought that because of the Islamic rule against worshiping images, and to a large extent representation of the human image, wayang figures were made to look angular or ungainly in the Islamic era of Indonesia. By contrast, in Bali, which remained Hindu, wayang figures are less abstract and more full-boded in shape.