West Java Provincial Government Designates 18 May as Sunda Tatar Day

Bandung (ANTARA) - The West Java Provincial Government has officially designated 18 May as Sunda Tatar Day, not merely to add another entry to the calendar of commemorations, but as an effort to restore the identity of West Java residents to their roots in traditions over a millennium old.

This designation was formalised through West Java Governor’s Regulation Number 13 of 2026 on the Observance of Sunda Tatar Day. It refers to the crucial moment of the transition of power from the Tarumanegara Kingdom to the Sunda Kingdom by Maharaja Tarusbawa (Trarusbawa) on 18 May 669 AD.

History researcher and Lecturer at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Padjadjaran University (Unpad), Nina Herlina, at the Gedung Sate in Bandung on Friday, affirmed that the selection of this date is based on authentic evidence in the Pustaka Rajyarajya i Bhumi Nusantara and Foreign News from the Tang Dynasty.

“By considering several sources, it can be concluded that the establishment of the Sunda Kingdom marks the birth of Sunda Tatar on 18 May 669 AD, so it can be designated as Sunda Tatar Day,” said Nina during a media briefing.

Addressing the possibility that the public might confuse historical days with administrative ones, Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Unpad, Hernadi Affandi, explained that Sunda Tatar Day stands on a different foundation from West Java Province’s Anniversary, which is commemorated every 19 August.

“The commemoration of West Java Province’s Anniversary is more administrative in nature, whereas Sunda Tatar Day is more focused on strengthening cultural and historical roots,” said Hernadi.

According to him, the existence of both major days actually complements each other without overlapping interests. Sunda Tatar Day serves to highlight the cultural richness that has long been the soul of West Java’s administrative entity.