Ahead of Ramadan, Semarang City Government Holds Annual Dugderan Tradition
The Semarang City Government held its annual Dugderan tradition under the theme ‘Together in Culture, Tolerance in Tradition’ in Semarang, Central Java, today. The yearly tradition serves to welcome the holy month of Ramadan.
Semarang Mayor Agustina Wilujeng explained that the theme was chosen because Dugderan, an ancient tradition, has been successfully preserved by the people of Semarang. Although it is a Muslim tradition held to welcome the arrival of Ramadan, Dugderan has become a source of pride belonging to all faiths.
“Dugderan is an important moment in welcoming the holy month of Ramadan, a starting point for our Muslim friends to begin fasting. On the other hand, Dugderan reflects the spirit of togetherness among the diverse people of Semarang who remain harmonious in preserving their cultural heritage,” said Agustina in a written statement on Monday (16/2/2026).
Furthermore, Agustina highlighted the Warak Ngendog symbol, which has long been the main icon of Dugderan. According to her, the philosophy of the warak that ‘ngendog’ (lays eggs) carries meanings of harmony, self-restraint, and hope for shared prosperity.
“What is unique today is that all the warak must lay eggs, because if the warak doesn’t lay eggs, we could end up in conflict, quarrelling, with no fortune to share,” she said.
Notably, this year’s Dugderan introduced an innovation involving children through a Children’s Dugder Parade featuring students and cultural arts groups.
“I was pleased to see young children joining in the dancing earlier. And this will be the first time we release a children’s contingent. The involvement of children represents a transfer of knowledge and preservation of tradition so that Dugderan remains alive and continues to develop in the future. The participation of the younger generation is key to the sustainability of Semarang’s cultural heritage,” she remarked.
This year’s Dugderan was also considered increasingly unique as it coincided with cross-religious celebrations, thereby strengthening the values of tolerance and harmony within the community.
“It is hoped that this year’s Dugderan will be even more unique in connection with Chinese New Year and the pre-Easter fasting period for our Catholic and Christian friends. Thus, harmony will grow stronger and Semarang will become ever more peaceful,” she said.
She also expressed optimism that the peaceful and harmonious atmosphere created through the Dugderan tradition would have a positive impact on the tourism and investment sectors in Semarang. The administration also extended greetings to Muslims who would be undertaking the fasting observance.
“Together with Mr Iswar, we extend our best wishes for the fasting observance to our Muslim friends,” she concluded.
The 2026 Dugderan was attended by thousands of participants comprising representatives from 16 sub-districts, community organisations, cultural groups, students, and arts communities. The programme included a cultural procession, traditional arts performances, and the beating of the bedug drum as a marker of the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, serving simultaneously as a symbol of unity, tolerance, and the cultural richness of Semarang.