In Javanese wayang (shadow puppets); the panakawan or panakavan (phanakavhan) are the clown servants of the hero. There are four of them - Semar (also known as Ki Lurah Semar); Petruk; Gareng and Bagong. Semar is the personification of a deity; sometimes said to the be the dhanyang or guardian spirit of the island of Java. In Javanese mythology; deities can only manifest themselves as ugly or otherwise unprepossessing humans; and so Semar is always portrayed as short and fat with a pug nose and a dangling hernia.

His three companions are his adopted sons; given to Semar as votaries by their parents. Petruk is portrayed as tall and gangling with a long nose; Gareng as short with a club foot and Bagong as obese.

Wayang is a Javanese word for particular kinds of theatre (literally 'shadow'). When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theatre; sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang. Performances of shadow puppet theatre are accompanied by gamelan in Java.

UNESCO designated Wayang Kulit; a shadow puppet theatre and the best known of the Indonesian wayang; as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 7 November 2003. Pictures From History