Give traditional culture ample space: Sultan

Give traditional culture ample space: Sultan

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia should make space for both traditional
and modern cultures to prevent it losing humanitarian values,
Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X said on Saturday.

"Providing ample space for cultural activities is important to
keep the people smooth and compassionate. Without cultural
activities, a violent society will emerge," he told attendees at
the opening ceremony of the two-day Yogyakarta's Arts and Culture
Festival here.

"It's also important to keep hold of our old cultures and
traditions. Because nations and people who don't have traditions
of their own are lost nations and their people doesn't posses
souls," he said in a prepared speech.

Organized by native Yogyakartans living in Greater Jakarta,
the festival, being held at the Indonesian Manpower Foundation
(YTKI) Building on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta, was
designed to commemorate the 253rd anniversary of the Yogyakarta
palace.

The governor, who is also the sultan of the Yogyakarta
kingdom, also said he disagreed with the gap between royal and
popular cultures.

"Royal cultures can be transferred to the people and popular
cultures can be adopted by the palace. There are interactions
between both cultures which can then synthesize into a new form
of culture," he said.

"It's also untrue that the palace is the center of cultural
activities. The difference is not in the hierarchy but rather in
the performances," added the sultan.

Also present at the opening ceremony was Jakarta Governor
Sutiyoso and the head of the Jakarta-based diplomatic corps,
Palestinian Ambassador Ribhi Y. Awad.

In his speech, Sutiyoso said he appreciated art festivals like
this one and hoped other provinces would soon send cultural teams
to promote their local cultures.

"We have diverse arts and cultures from our provinces. They
can stage their arts and cultures here for promotion. I hope this
festival will attract other provinces to organize similar
festivals of their own," he said.

"The cities (Jakarta and Yogyakarta) have had a relationship
since the 17th century when Sultan Agung, Mataram's first king,
invaded Batavia to get rid of the Dutch.

The relationship became stronger when the capital moved to
Yogyakarta from 1945 to 1949, he added.

Sutiyoso pointed to several places in Jakarta related to the
Javanese kingdom, such as Matraman and Kampung Jawa in East
Jakarta.

The ceremony was highlighted by a parade of palace soldiers,
grebeg maulud processions and artisans from the four regencies
and one mayoralty that comprise Yogyakarta.

Bantul regency performed a Reog dance followed by Gunungkidul
with a Campursari dance. Kulonprogo regency then treated
attendees with a Jatilan performance, with an Angguk dance from
Sleman regency close behind. Yogyakarta mayoralty topped things
off with a Bancak Doyok humorous dance.

After the opening ceremony, both governors then visited the
exhibition stands featuring a wide range of Yogyakarta
handicrafts, such as batik, pewter and leather goods, shadow
puppets, blangkon caps, and Yogyakartan culinary treats.

Visitors were interested to see a stand displaying hand-made
guitars painted with batik motifs.

"We don't mass produce these batik guitars. Most of them are
custom made and sell for export at between US$1,500 to US$2,000
each," Haryo Sasongko from the stand told The Jakarta Post.

"The Jimmy Hendrix museum in Seattle, Washington, has one of
our guitars," he boasted.

"We also sell cheaper guitars for Rp 1.5 to Rp 2 million ($180
to $245) for youngsters," he added.

The event also features a Yogyakartan blangkon master, Wagimin
Darmo Wiyono, who is exhibiting his talents in making the cap.

"I usually sell the caps for Rp 50,000 to Rp 90,000. The price
depends on the cloth and the quality of the work," he told the
Post.

Unfortunately, the venue for the exhibition is not large
enough to accommodate all the exhibitors and visitors, giving it
a crowded and hectic vibe.

An all-night long wayang kulit performance, a fashion show
presenting a century of Yogyakarta court dresses from
Hamengkubuwono VII (1877-1921) to the present and a royal wedding
ceremony are also scheduled. (nvn)