Robam Sovann Maccha

It narrates the encounter of Hanuman and Sovann Maccha during the construction of the causeway to Lanka in Reamker, a Cambodian version of Indian epic Ramayana.

One of the earliest records of dance (Khmer: robam/ rabam) in Cambodia is from the 7th century, where performances were used as a funeral rite for kings.

[1] The original Ramayana arrived to Southeast Asia from South India along with Hinduism, but its adaptation there suggests Buddhist influence.

The earliest mentioning of the epic dates to the 7th century according to a stone inscription at Veal Kantel, Stueng Treng.

Intricate carvings on the walls of Angkor Wat depict a scene from the Ramayana dating back nearly a millennium.

Statues of the poem's heroes were worshiped in temple sanctuaries, akin to the wall paintings at Cambodia's Royal Palace and Wat Bo.

The Cambodian version includes incidents and details not found in the Sanskrit original written by the poet Valmiki.

An example of a story that does not appear in Indian texts and performance is that of the encounter between Hanuman, the monkey general, and Sovann Maccha, the mermaid, a favorite of Cambodian audiences.

While trying to overcome Sovann Maccha, they fall in love,[3] then give birth to a monkey with a fish tail known as Macchanub.

The costume is seen solely gold in accordance to the character's name (Sovannn Maccha) which is literally translated as golden mermaid.

The sampot is wrapped around the lower body and then pleated into a band in the front and secured with a gold or brass belt.

This caudal fin-shaped cloth piece distinguish Sovann Maccha from other female role in Royal Ballet of Cambodia.