Eagle king Sadayu flapping wings in dance performance 1136091600

Eagle king Sadayu flapping wings in dance performance

A dancer costumed as the eagle king Sadayu stands tall and flaps his wings in a performance at Yogyakarta in July 1986. The dancer's feathered costume is a textured blue fabric with a painted wooden head and gold crown. The carved bird head has wide round eyes and and open beak with a protruding red tongue.

Sadayu is the son of the mythical bird Garuda, who is the mount of the Hindu god Vishnu. Sadayu also is an ally of the kingdom of Ayudhya. He fights the demon Ravana when he sees him abducting Rama's wife Sita.

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