Ministry of Culture celebrates Culture Day with the Archipelago Culture Carnival

Jakarta – The Ministry of Culture (Kemenbud) of the Republic of Indonesia holds the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Carnival as part of the 2025 Culture Day celebration that falls every October 17. The activity that took place in the Fort Vredeburg Museum area up to Zero Kilometer Point Yogyakarta was titled ‘Diverse Spirit Cultures,’ United Cultures for Indonesia. The carnival was symbolically opened by the Director General of Culture and Tradition Protection, Restu Gunawan, together with officials from the Ministry of Culture by flying white doves. This symbol symbolizes freedom, peace and the spirit of unity in Indonesia’s cultural diversity. “The Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Carnival is part of the 2025 Culture Day series, which is held to strengthen the spirit of togetherness, introduce the diversity of Indonesian culture to the wider community, and affirm the meaning of the motto ‘Bhinneka Tunggal Ika’ as the foundation of national culture,” said the official statement of the Ministry of Culture, Saturday (2082/50). kolintang who performed the songs Rayuan Pulau Kelapa, O Ina Nikeke and Gambang Suling, followed by a collaboration of kolintang music and the ‘Selendang Batik Nusantara’ fashion show, with 18 women in kebaya, accompanied by the song Kebaya Indonesia which took place in the Kilometer Zero Point Area. The atmosphere became even more lively with the performance of the Colossal Dance ‘Wanodya Indonesia’ performed by 50 female dancers in kebaya, followed by a kebaya flash group accompanied by the song Autumn Gunung. This carnival is also enlivened by Reog Ponorogo Manggolo Mudho who appears in full formation, namely barongan, warok, jathil, pujang ganong and pengrawit, representing the power of tradition and folk performing arts. The Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Carnival features six thematic formations representing Indonesia’s cultural and natural wealth, namely: Golden Garuda Row; Rainbow over the horizon; Graceful waves of a thousand rivers; Harmony on a colorful earth; A string of pearls from the East; and the Nusaraya Universe Symphony. The series of carnival events concluded on March 1 with a Collaborative Performance of Shadow Puppets and Ketoprak at the Serangan Oemuem Monument, featuring Millennial Puppeteers from the Indraprasta PGRI University (Unindra) with guest star Yati Pesek and Yogyakarta ketoprak artists. This performance is a reflection of harmony between tradition and the creativity of the younger generation in the preservation of folk performing arts. For your information, the Director General of Diplomacy, Promotion and Cooperation, Endah TD Retnoastuti; Inspector II of the Ministry of Culture, Mohamad Hadad; echelon II officials within the Ministry of Culture, as well as the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the Indraprasta PGRI University. (acn/ega)