Myanmar Marionettes is a Mandalay-based string puppetry company founded by Ma Ma Naing and Naing Yee Mar in 1986. To the present day, the Myanmar Marionettes and their programming still strive not only to entertain through their performances but also to educate the world audience on the rich history and cultural values of Myanmar’s theatrical arts.
This puppet figure depicts the character Sita (Thida) from the extraordinary tale of Ramayana, which in Burma is known as Yama Zatdaw. In the scene known as “Chasing Deer”, Sita was lured into captivity by the deer Gambi, sent by King Demon Ravana. The marionette figure of Sita is dressed in a white silk blouse and a bright magenta longyi around her waist. She adorns gold jewellery on her shoulders and wrists, depicted here in woven gold and silver sequins. As a character of royalty, Sita’s hair is shown in a tight top knot under her towering golden headdress, a typical formal hairstyle worn by Burmese women. This hairstyle is preferred because, in traditional society, it is considered immodest for women to have their hair down.
