Colossal Art of "Kuntulan Ewon" Colours National Education Day 2026 in Banyuwangi
Banyuwangi (ANTARA) - The grand artistic attraction of Kuntulan Ewon coloured the commemoration of National Education Day (Hardiknas) 2026 in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, attended by the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti.
“Kuntulan is one of Banyuwangi’s distinctive arts featuring hadrah music that performs Islamic songs, while ewon refers to thousands of participants from primary, secondary, and high school students in this grand artistic attraction, divided into 560 hadrah drummers and 500 student dancers.
“The Hardiknas 2026 celebration in Banyuwangi became the most vibrant in Indonesia, successfully blending local wisdom with the spirit of educational progress,” said Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu’ti after the Hardiknas 2026 ceremony and witnessing the Kuntulan Ewon grand art at Blambangan Park, Banyuwangi Regency, on Saturday.
“Our children may become globally minded, and that is necessary, but they must not abandon noble local values and culture,” stated Mendikdasmen.
Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani conveyed that the Hardiknas momentum is not only a reflection of educational progress but also an opportunity to instil love for regional culture.
“Through Kuntulan Ewon, we want to show that Banyuwangi students excel not only academically but are also firmly rooted in cultural and spiritual values,” she said.
The grand Kuntulan Ewon artistic attraction took place vibrantly, with more than a thousand students from primary to high schools across various institutions performing impressively in front of Mendikdasmen Abdul Mu’ti.
These students collaborated with artists and cultural experts to present a traditional art performance combining movement, music, and religious values, creating synergy between the world of education and the preservation of local arts and culture.
Kuntulan art is one of the traditional art forms that developed in Banyuwangi, rooted in hadrah art brought by religious scholars as a medium for Islamic da’wah.
In its development, this art has undergone acculturation with local culture, giving birth to a distinctive performance form that blends dance movements, rebana percussion, and verses of Islamic praise.
The students appeared united with dynamic movements harmonising with rebana beats and shalawat chants, creating an atmosphere that was both solemn and invigorating a sense of togetherness.
Thousands of students filled Blambangan Park with neat and layered formations; the hadrah drummers wore distinctive Osing traditional black udeng attire combined with red and white accents, forming long aligned lines.
Meanwhile, the dancers moved nimbly following the rhythm, raising their hands and stepping quickly in sync with the beats, creating a harmonious and captivating wave of movement that mesmerised the audience.