Pacitan Proposes Rontek Art as Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Pacitan Regency Government in East Java has proposed the traditional art of Rontek as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (WBTB) to the Ministry of Culture, in an effort to strengthen recognition of the region’s cultural identity. Acting Head of the Culture Division at the Pacitan Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports Office (Disparbudpora), Adetya Wicaksana Putra, stated on Monday that the proposal for Rontek was submitted at the end of 2025 and is currently undergoing a curation process by the central government. “We submitted Rontek as a WBTB proposal for 2026 and it is now in the curation stage. We hope it will soon be designated as an official cultural identity of Pacitan,” Adetya said. According to him, the submission was made with various considerations because Rontek holds strong historical and cultural value for the people of Pacitan. Rontek is a traditional musical art that originally developed from the community’s habit of waking residents for the pre-dawn meal (sahur) during the month of Ramadan. This tradition later evolved into an art performance that combines the beating of bamboo kentongan, bedug drums, and various percussion instruments with a distinctive and dynamic rhythm. In its development, Rontek not only presents musical elements but also combines choreography, theatrics, costumes, and the creativity of the art groups performing it. Adetya stated that recognition as WBTB is expected to strengthen preservation efforts while opening wider space for the development of Rontek art so that it remains relevant amidst the changing times. The art form has been continuously maintained through various community activities, from the village to the regency level. One such effort is the Pacitan Rontek Festival, which is regularly held as a space for expression and creativity for art practitioners. The 2026 Pacitan Rontek Festival will be held on 17-19 July with a different concept from previous years. One of the innovations implemented is the introduction of a moving stage as a component of the judging criteria. This concept is expected to restore the character of Rontek as a moving performance art that involves direct interaction with the community along the parade route.