The novel is set in Dukuh Paruk, a small village in rural Java, where a traditional dance troupe, known as ronggeng, performs. The story revolves around the lives of the dancers, musicians, and villagers, who are deeply connected to the land and their cultural heritage. The protagonist, Kartareja, a young musician, becomes involved with the ronggeng troupe and falls in love with one of the dancers, Sundari.