House Member Backs Kendal's Sea Alms Tradition as National Agenda

Member of Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Firnando Ganinduto has expressed support for making the annual Sedekah Laut or Nyadran tradition in Gempolsewu Village, Rowosari District, Kendal Regency, Central Java, a national agenda. He conveyed this whilst attending the event on Friday (26/6). According to a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday, he said the Sedekah Laut tradition is a form of gratitude for the blessings from Allah SWT. He noted that this very positive tradition rightly deserves to be preserved every year. Furthermore, he stated that the tradition is not merely a customary ritual but also a momentum to strengthen community togetherness whilst simultaneously driving the tourism sector and local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Seeing the significant potential, he affirmed his commitment to continue overseeing the development of Sedekah Laut Gempolsewu so it can be elevated to a national-scale cultural agenda. ‘God willing, we will continue to provide support. This event is very festive and extraordinary, so I believe it is time for it to be upgraded to a national event. Going forward, I will coordinate with the village head to formulate strategic steps so that Sedekah Laut Gempolsewu can move up a class,’ said Firnando. Meanwhile, Gempolsewu Village Head Charmadi said the Sedekah Laut tradition consistently succeeds in attracting thousands of visitors each year. ‘The community is very enthusiastic. Many visitors deliberately travel from afar, from Temanggung, Wonosobo, and surrounding areas,’ he said. He explained that the series of activities for this tradition not only includes the larung sesaji (sea offering) procession but is also enlivened by various cultural agendas and community economic empowerment, such as a boat rowing competition, a coastal cultural parade, traditional art performances featuring wayang kulit (shadow puppets), ketoprak (traditional theatre), and barongan (lion-like dance), as well as a local MSME bazaar. Through the organisation of this festival, the Gempolsewu Village Government hopes that Sedekah Laut can become a national cultural agenda whilst strengthening its position as a premier tourism icon of Kendal Regency. ‘Through this momentum, we want to showcase Gempolsewu Village, which is rich in natural potential and the quality of its human resources. We hope that in the future, Sedekah Laut will officially become a national event because, however you look at it, this is the face and a proud icon of our village,’ he said.