Friday, July 17, 2020 The Javanese Literature Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Balinese Literature Study Program at Universitas Udayana in collaboration with the Bali Provincial Cultural Value Preservation Center (BPNB) held a public lecture with the theme of study “Mantra Ruwat: Relationships of Compendiums of Manuscripts in Palace and scriptorium Merapi-Merbabu”. The public lecture on this occasion was held online using the facility Webinar from Cisco Webex and broadcast live through the channel Youtube BPNB Bali. The activity which lasted almost 2.5 hours presented speakers Rendra Agusta (Researcher of Surakarta Manuscripts) and Dr. Abimardha Kurniawan (Researcher of Merapi-Merbabu Manuscripts) and was guided by Zakariya Pamuji Aminullah (Lecturer of Javanese Literature Study Program). The public lecture starts at 01.00 pm WIB / 02.00 pm WIB until 05.00 pm WIB / 06.00 pm WITA starting with remarks from the Head of the UGM Javanese Literature Study Program and then continuing with material presentation, responses as well as remarks from BPNB Bali Province, discussions and questions and answers.
This activity is a continuation of the online public lecture in collaboration with two regional literature study programs at UGM and UNUD. On this occasion, this collaborative activity is special because the two universities are also working with the Bali Province BPNB. About 150 people attended the online public lecture. Lecture participants did not only come from the three agencies that worked together but also from the general public and cultural and script activist communities from several regions.
By holding this public lecture, it is hoped that it will be able to add to the knowledge of the younger generation about the treasures of past literature, especially about the ruwat incantations that originated from the slopes of Merapi-Merbabu to the Surakarta Kraton era. Incantations in the past served as an important means of assisting humans in several religious ritual contexts as well as in rites of warding off calamity. The purpose of this public lecture is not only to hold discussions about the studies raised but also as an effort to strengthen the ties of brotherhood between the Javanese Literature Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Balinese Literature Study Program at Universitas Udayana. Plague condition which does not allow us to meet face to face does not dampen our efforts to strengthen fraternal relations because distance is not an obstacle. (Fikri Latifi)
