Peeking through a slit in her giant puppet costume, Indonesian teen Juniarti is drenched in sweat as she moves stiffly under the blistering sun. ADVERTISEMENTThe giant-headed puppets are a staple on the streets of Indonesia’s bustling capital and often appear in celebrations to help ward off evil spirits. Wobbling from side to side as they move, the puppets’ face used to be made from papier mache although fiberglass or plastic resin mold is more common these days. Usually, Ondel-Ondel comes in a male version with a thick mustache and red face, while the female’s white face is punctuated by bright red lipstick with coconut leaves for hair. And having the chance to blend work with play means some of the puppet kids think they’ve got a pretty good deal.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 19, 2019 10:30 UTC