Culture Minister Invites Staff to Embrace Ramadan as Spiritual and Cultural Momentum
The Ministry of Culture held a staff gathering to welcome the holy month of Ramadan 1447 H. The event, themed ‘The Beauty of Worship Tolerance in the Archipelago’, was held at the Auditorium on the 3rd Floor of Building A, Ministry of Culture, as a moment to strengthen togetherness and reinforce work ethic ahead of the holy month.
Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture Bambang Wibawarta expressed gratitude for the event as part of the tradition of welcoming Ramadan.
“Praise be to God, ahead of the holy month of Ramadan we are able to gather in this munggahan ceremony as an expression of gratitude, as well as an effort to cleanse our hearts, strengthen bonds, and reinforce togetherness as one large family of the Ministry of Culture,” said Bambang in a written statement on Thursday (19/2/2026).
He emphasised that this occasion was not merely an annual tradition but a reminder for all staff to enter Ramadan while maintaining professionalism, integrity, and work ethic. Bambang expressed hope that the togetherness would further strengthen synergy and bring blessings to the implementation of cultural advancement duties.
Meanwhile, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated that Ramadan should not only be understood as spiritual worship but also as a cultural event that lives and thrives within Indonesian society.
The tradition of breaking the fast, or iftar, has become part of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage listed at UNESCO by a number of Middle Eastern countries, including Turkey. The Indonesian Government is currently working to ensure that the iftar tradition can also become part of the extension list submitted by Indonesia.
“Iftar, or breaking the fast, is a cultural event with a rich variety of highly distinctive traditions across different regions. Each area has its own unique ways and characteristics that reflect the cultural wealth of the archipelago,” he said.
He also highlighted the diversity of Ramadan cuisine, from takjil snacks to distinctive iftar dishes, as cultural expressions reflecting the identity and creativity of communities across various regions. These traditions demonstrate how spiritual and cultural values merge in everyday life practices.
Furthermore, Fadli stated that Ramadan represents a moment for resetting one’s life, during which Muslims observe fasting for 30 days as a process of self-purification, accompanied by the obligation of zakat, and concluded with mutual forgiveness.
Fadli called on all staff to make Ramadan a space for strengthening bonds and celebrating the cultural richness that grows within Ramadan traditions across Indonesia’s various regions.
“On behalf of myself and the leadership, I wish everyone a blessed welcome to the holy month of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah. May our worship be granted ease, health, and blessings,” he concluded.
Also present at the event were senior Ministry of Culture officials, including Vice Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha Djumaryo; Secretary-General Bambang Wibawarta; Inspector General Fryda Lucyana; Director General for Cultural Protection and Tradition Restu Gunawan; Director General for Cultural Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cooperation Endah T.D. Retnoastuti; Director General for Cultural Development, Utilisation, and Guidance Ahmad Mahendra; as well as the Minister’s Special Advisers and Special Staff, and other officials within the Ministry of Culture.
The event concluded with a religious address by Ustaz Ricky Kurniawan, Lc., who delivered a sermon on the month of Ramadan. The gathering demonstrated the Ministry of Culture’s commitment to nurturing the values of tolerance, strengthening togetherness, and affirming the role of culture as a unifying bond for the nation, particularly in welcoming the holy month of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah.