Culture.

Indonesia is rich in art and culture, integrated with religion and age-old traditions. Although the legal system is based on the old Dutch penal code, social and religious duty has, over time, been refined to form a code of behaviour called "adat" or traditional law which differs from area to area. Religious influences on the community are variously evident from island to island.

In general, Indonesian dance is slow, with controlled, reserved motions. The famous dance dramas of Java and Bali are derived from Hindu mythology and often feature fragments from the Ramayana and Mahabharata Hindu epics. Their influence is evident in the use of the legs, neck, head, and hands. Like most of Indonesia's arts, the elegant, intricate music and dance of the region is rooted in religion and ritual. Dances and dramas are accompanied by a full "gamelan" orchestra comprising xylophones, drums, gongs, and in some cases string instruments and flutes.

There are also various forms of puppet shows. The "wayang kulit" of Java is performed with leather puppets skillfully wielded by a puppeteer to tell famous tales of Hindu culture. It is performed against a white screen while a lantern in the background casts the shadows of the characters on the screen, visible from the other side where the spectators are seated. There is also the "Batik", the most famous Indonesian printing method, in which wax is applied to cloth to form a pattern and the cloth is then dyed.