Not Just Sacred: Hundreds of Badung's Ancient Lontars Go Digital

Badung Archives and Libraries Service (Diskerpus Badung) is digitising ancient manuscripts to safeguard the data and content contained within. The move is intended to ensure the knowledge embedded in lontar is not lost and can be passed down to future generations.

The programme to convert materials to digital format has been under way since 2024. To date, Diskerpus Badung notes that nearly 200 cakep or bundles of lontar owned by the community have been digitised.

‘Owners of lontar are enthusiastic about digitising their inherited lontars. This is important so that the contents of the lontar remain safe and can be studied by future generations,’ said Kadek Wiratnata, Head of the Library Material Preservation Division at Diskerpus Badung, on Thursday (21 May 2026).

According to Wiratnata, the lontar and other ancient manuscripts in Badung need to be cared for and preserved to keep them well maintained. In addition, lontar owners need to know that the heritage is an ancestral legacy that must be safeguarded.

‘The lontar and ancient manuscripts in Badung need to be cared for and preserved so that they remain well preserved. The contents of the lontar are also important for owners to know that it is an ancestral heritage that must be guarded,’ Wiratnata said.

The government has also held awareness-raising activities on preserving ancient manuscripts across six sub-districts in Badung. The activities involve all government apparatus and Bali language extension workers.

He acknowledged there are still obstacles in persuading residents to care for lontar because they are still regarded as sacred.

‘From this socialisation we want to change the public’s mindset toward lontar and ancient manuscripts. Lontar is not merely a sacred heritage, but also a source of knowledge that must be safeguarded and understood,’ Wiratnata explained.

The total lontar spread across Badung Regency is estimated to reach thousands of cakep or bundles. Between 2022 and 2025, Diskerpus Badung together with Bali language extension workers also carried out physical maintenance on around 1,500 cakep lontar.