Wednesday morning, July 31, 2024, became a historic moment for the 2024 batch of students of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada. As part of the campus introduction process, they were welcomed to the Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024 event, which was held for two days from July 31 to August 1, 2024. The event was designed to introduce new students to academic life at FIB UGM, where Mahadaya will study for the next four years.
The opening of Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024 was enlivened by the strains of gamelan performed by Gamasutra (Gamelan Sastra Nusantara), an art unit that serves as a forum for students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. Gamasutra played an important role in welcoming the mahadaya, presenting a solemn atmosphere and the nobility of Indonesian culture.
Gamasutra's Performance at Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024
In addition to welcoming the mahadaya, Gamasutra also accompanied the presence of the Chairman of the Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024, the President of the Student Executive Board (LEM) 2024, the Dean of FIB UGM and staff, as well as the Heads of Study Programs from various departments. The peak moment of Gamasutra's performance was when it enlivened the procession of gunungan removal, marking the official opening of Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024. Some of the songs performed by Gamasutra in the event include Gending Gati Padhasih, Gangsaran, and Ayak Vertikal which are the works of Ki Dr. Drs. Sukisno, M.Sn.
The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM, as the frontline in cultural studies, shows its commitment in preserving Indonesia's cultural heritage by providing ample space for the development of arts and cultural interests among students. This effort is in line with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the 4th point on improving the quality of education and the 17th point on partnerships to achieve goals.
Gamasutra's performance in Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024 is not only an entertainment event, but also a very important means of cultural introduction and preservation. Mahadaya class of 2024 also got a deep first impression of campus life that is rich in cultural values and traditions, which Mahadaya will continue to encounter and develop during its dynamics at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM.
Gathotkaca Krodha puppet with hands like scissors, source: https://tokohwayangpurwa.blogspot.com/2009/10/gatutkaca.html
The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has a variety of students with a myriad of achievements, both in academic and non-academic fields. This time, good news came from one of its students, Muhammad Siswoyo, from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. The 2022 student won third place in the essay competition at Parab Kawi #6, a prestigious event with the theme “Luhuring Kabudayan lan Kasusastran Jawi, Amrih Kalokaning Nagari.”.
This year's Parab Kawi competition featured two categories, essays and calligraphy. In the essay category, the sub-theme was “Tradition of Javanese Cultural Values, Knowledge, and Technology." On this occasion, Muhammad Siswoyo presented an essay entitled “Psychological Depiction of Raos Gathotkaca Krodha as a Destructive Entity in Pocapan Abur-aburan Gathotkaca Wayang Kulit Jawa Timuran”.
The essay discusses the pocapan (narration of an event in a shadow puppet performance) Abur-aburan depicting Gathotkaca Krodha, 'Gatotkaca who is angry', especially on the body parts of one of Werkudara's children. The limbs of Gathotkaca Krodha are likened to various tools of destruction, such as scissors, pacul, etc. This is in fact relevant to the shape of the Gathotkaca Krodha puppet, which is also depicted in this way. This concept is also in line with the psychology of raos, which links a person's emotional state with the ability to create certain states, such as anger and destruction.
Shadow puppetry is not only an art form, but also a 'miniature' of Indonesia's cultural diversity. It contains various elements of art, from the presentation, to the play, to the details of the puppet form and its existence. The art of storytelling in shadow puppet shows also plays an important role in 'animating' the show and delivering the audience to the 'gate' of literature as well as moral messages and philosophical meanings.
Exploring cultural knowledge can be done to find out the worldview of a society. By knowing the mindset of the community, we can improve education while understanding diversity in a frame of harmony. Thus, the competition is in accordance with the points of the Sustainable Development Goals, namely point 4 (improving the quality of education) and point 17 (partnerships to achieve goals).
On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a graduate program graduation for period III of the 2023/2024 academic year with a different feel. The event that took place at Grha Sabha Pramana was opened with a cucuk lampah procession by students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program who are members of Ratnaraya, the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program Student Dance unit.
The students who performed in the cucuk lampah procession included Dhiny, Nanda, Audrey, and Ganes. The procession was followed by the rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K)., Ph.D., chairman of Kagama Pusat, Ganjar Pranowo, and the deans of Universitas Gadjah Mada's master program. They were accompanied by gending Sesanti Gadjah Mada, a composition created by Djoko Walujo.
In an interview conducted on July 26, 2024, Audrey, one of the students who participated in the procession, expressed her experience. “Usually we perform traditional dances in an event, but this time we did the cucuk lampah tradition, accompanying the Rector, Mr. Ganjar, and the postgraduate deans. This is a very memorable new experience for us,” she explained.
Reported in desatepus.gunungkidulkab.go.id (2023, September 07), the cucuk lampah tradition is a traditional Javanese wedding tradition in the form of a procession, accompanying the bride and groom to the aisle. The position of the cucuk lampah dancers is in front, followed by pager ayu and pager bagus, the bride and groom, and the bridal family. The purpose of cucuk lampah for Javanese people is as a repellent that can interfere with marriage. However, in this postgraduate graduation ceremony, the tradition is adjusted so that it is relevant to the atmosphere and purpose of the event.
The preservation of Indonesian traditions and culture has deep aesthetic, teaching, and philosophical values. Activities such as these demonstrate effective efforts in preserving and passing on the nation's identity with adjustments to the relevance of the times. Cooperation from various parties is needed to encourage cultural preservation and inheritance. By presenting cucuk lampah in the graduation ceremony, thus, the presence of cucuk lampah in the graduate program graduation ceremony is in accordance with the 4th point of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's), namely improving the quality of education, and the 17th point, namely partnerships to achieve goals.
In order to celebrate the 57th anniversary, the Faculty of Philosophy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a karawitan festival that lasted for two days, on July 20–21, 2024. The festival was attended by 47 musical groups, both internal and external, at Universitas Gadjah Mada. One of the groups that performed at the event was Gamelan Sastra Nusantara (Gamasutra).
Gamelan Sastra Nusantara (Gamasutra) is a unit consisting of students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. The group focuses on studying, deepening, and presenting the musical arts. On Sunday, July 21, 2024, precisely at 01.00 PM WIB, Gamasutra took the stage for their performance. The performers, consisting of various generations, presented Gending Ladrang Bogasampir, Ketawang Kasatriyan, and Lancaran Sebet in Laras slendro pathet sanga.
Quoted in full from Philosophy UGM (2024, July 21). Festival Karawitan Dies Natalis ke 57 Fakultas Filsafat UGM Hari ke-2 Sesi 2. Youtube. [32:36], https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQYastAouYg
Reporting from gloriabarus on the philosophy.ugm.ac.id page (2024, July 20), Dr. Rr. Siti Murtiningsih, S.S., M.Hum., dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, explained in her speech that the existence of the karawitan festival is a place to enjoy, preserve, and absorb the philosophical values of this traditional Javanese musical art. In this case, Gamasutra, as an extension of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, participates in this collaboration with the aim of preserving and reviving this noble art. Through the karawitan festival, it is hoped that the karawitan art can continue to be appreciated and developed, not only remaining beautiful and sustainable, but also relevant, alive, and useful in the lives of Indonesian people.
Philosophy UGM (2024, July 21). Festival Karawitan Dies Natalis ke 57 Fakultas Filsafat UGM Hari ke-2 Sesi 2. Youtube. [32:36], from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQYastAouYg
Wednesday (17/07/2024), Pura Pakualaman held a traditional ceremony of Labuhan at Glagah Beach, Glagah Sub-district, Kapanewon Temon, Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta. This Labuhan ceremony is held every 10 Muharram or 10 Sura. Together with a lecturer and servant of Pura Pakualaman, Dr. Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum., as many as 20 students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) had the opportunity to follow the Labuhan traditional procession.
In its implementation, there are special provisions in the form of clothing that must be worn by students. The students' clothes are traditional Pranakan clothes and jarit, while the female students' clothes are kebaya and jarit. The participants gathered at 06.00 WIB at Pura Pakualaman before continuing the journey to Pesanggrahan Glagah by bus. Once there, students followed a series of ceremonies and blessings. The Ubarampe that had been prayed for was then paraded, and the participants followed it to Joglo Labuhan. Some gunungan are then thrown into the sea.
The procurement of this Labuhan tradition is a form of gratitude to God Almighty, praying for the ancestors, and hoping for safety, health, and prosperity for the community. For students, the Labuhan tradition at Glagah Beach is a golden opportunity to dive directly into and understand this fair form of Javanese culture. This direct cultural experience and interaction is expected to be a means of developing their scientific competence.
Thus, the opportunity given by Pura Pakualaman to the students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program is a real effort to build understanding as well as steps to preserve Javanese culture.
What comes to mind when you hear the word jamu? A traditional drink? A drink brought by mbok jamu? Or perhaps the popular phrase 'beras kencur'? True, jamu is widely known as a traditional medicine in the form of a drink that is a manifestation of Javanese culture. However, what if jamu or Javanese traditional medicine methods are not only drunk? Does mahadaya know about it?
Referring to Wulandari (2011) in her scientific article entitled Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi Koleksi Perpustakaan Dewantara Kirti Griya (Taman Siswa): Sebuah Dokumentasi Pengobatan Tradisional, there is an ancient manuscript in printed Javanese script that records the medical knowledge of the elders. The manuscript is entitled Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi. The manuscript of Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi discusses medicine, from various kinds of diseases, how to treat them, and to various plants and their properties. This book was published by Tan Khoen Swie Publisher in 1933 and is a manuscript from the Taman Siswa Library collection.
In the manuscript of Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi, there are several methods of traditional Javanese medicine with uses other than drinking. Here is the description:
1.Tapel
Tapel is a form of jamu or medicine that can be used by rubbing it on the stomach (Poerwadarminta, 1939, in Wulandari, 2011). There are 16 diseases that can be cured by this method. However, the author will mention only five in this article, namely a child with diarrhea, a child with worms, an elderly person who feels tight in the stomach, and an elderly person who cannot pass gas or urine. The following examples are related to diseases and treatment with tapel, as follows:
Tiyang sepuh seneb padharanipun;Cangkok tigan ayam ingkang sampun netes, jae, kapipis kaemoran lisah sulung, kaangge napeli padharan.
Translation:
(A poultice for an old man who feels tight in his stomach): The shell of a hatched chicken egg, ginger, mashed and mixed with sulung oil, is used to rub on the stomach.
2. Boreh
Jamu boreh is similar to tapel, the difference being that the herbs are liquefied and then rubbed all over the body. The following are some of the illnesses that can be cured, including a child who has sawan, a child who has sawan in any place, a child who has a fever and worms come out, someone who has a cold fever, etc. An example of a disease and its treatment is as follows:
Lare sawanen sadhengah sawan: ron wungu, santen kapipis kangge amborehi badan sakojur.
Translation:
Children affected by sawan in any place: wungu leaves, coconut milk, mashed and applied all over the body.
3. Cekok
Some mahadaya might be wondering if this jamu is served by force or not. The answer is yes. The presentation of jamu cekok is by forcibly squeezing the jamu with a cloth over the mouth, usually for small children (Compilation Team, 2002, in Wulandari, 2011). The function of this jamu is for health or an attempt to cure disease. Some of the things that are treated include children with diarrhea, children with fever all over the body, children with internal heat, children with sawan, etc. An example of an explanation of jamu cekok for an illness is:
A child who is sick (with) sawan,: dringo, bengle turmeric, black cumin, mesoyi, kemukus, shallots mashed and choked.
4. Sembur
Jamu sembur? That's right, Mahadaya didn't read it wrong. Although it sounds 'out of the ordinary', it is. Some of the diseases that can be treated in this way include, among others, children affected by sawan, children sick with cough, children who often cry at night, someone who has chest pain and tightness, etc. The following is an example of an explanation of an illness and its treatment with sembur, namely:
The National Library and École française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO) collaborated and held an international intensive course in Old Javanese on July 01-10, 2024. This activity took place at The Cangkringan Jogja Villas & Spa, Umbulharjo, Cangkringan, Sleman, Yogyakarta, and was attended by 25 participants from various backgrounds. Experts in the field of Old Javanese were present to train the participants to understand the intricacies of the Old Javanese language.
The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), participated in this activity. Two lecturers of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, namely Nurmalia Habibah, S.S., M.A., and Zakariya Pamuji Aminullah, S.S., M.A., attended as lecturers. In addition, Haryo Untoro, a student from the same study program, became one of the participants in the intensive course.
Nurmalia Habibah, S.S., M.A., guided the participants in studying the text of Adiparwa
Learning the Kakawin Ramayana text with Zakariya Pamuji Aminullah, S.S., M.A.
For 10 days, the participants practiced the Old Javanese language. In the first five days, the first thing to understand was the morphosyntax of the Old Javanese language. The next five days, the participants began to explore works that use the Old Javanese language, such as Adiparwa, Kakawin Ramayana, Pararaton, Landa Inscription, and others. In addition, participants also participated in an excursion program to several ancient sites of the Hindu-Buddhist period, namely Sewu Temple, Plaosan Temple, and Ratu Boko Temple.
The intensive course in Old Javanese aims to train philologists in the field of Old Javanese and encourage international collaboration in this rare field. The field of Old Javanese plays an important role in revealing various treasures of the past, both in culture, knowledge, history, and other matters. Exploring these treasures is an effort to reveal the identity of the nation and improve the quality of education. To achieve these goals, cooperation from various parties is needed to realize the sustainability of the Old Javanese field and be relevant to the times.
As a form of learning as well as community service, students of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) carry out Real Work Lectures (KKN). On Tuesday (06/28/ 2024), UGM held a Briefing and Deployment Ceremony for KKN-PPM UGM Period 2 Year 2024. The event took place in the courtyard of the Balairung Building at noon with various interesting performances, one of which was the Angguk Dance.
Angguk Dance is a traditional dance typical of Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region. This performance was performed by students of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. The dancers, namely Arin, Dhiny, Galuh, Kintan, Nanda, Novalia, Wening, Audrey Gizella, Eka, and Pinky, managed to amaze the audience. Nanda, one of the dancers, revealed that the Angguk Dance they performed received a rousing welcome and thunderous applause from the audience. "My friends and I tried to present a satisfying performance. When it was performed, the audience gave a very lively response and thunderous applause," she said in an interview (07/01/ 2024).
Angguk dance is an important element that adorns the Briefing and Deployment Ceremony of KKN-PPM UGM Period 2 Year 2024. More deeply, the presence of Angguk Dance reflects the cultural diversity of Indonesian society. This shows that the UGM KKN-PPM program contributes to a diverse society, in the form of student deployment to 35 provinces in Indonesia.
The Angguk Dance performance is also a concrete effort in nguri-uri (preserving) and ngurip-urip (enlivening) regional culture. The preservation and livelihood of regional culture is a form of preservation and attachment of national identity. By studying, understanding, preserving, and developing local knowledge and wisdom, it contributes to the development of education and provides benefits to society. To realize this, collaboration from various parties is needed to maximize and maintain the sustainability of the program. Therefore, the performance of Angguk Dance in the Briefing and Deployment Ceremony of KKN-PPM UGM Period 2 Year 2024 is related to sustainable development goals (SDGs) points 4 and 17.
The Language, Literature, and Culture Program Study, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), held another Macapatan Jumat Legen event on Thursday, June 27, 2024. The event took place at the Javanese Studies Center (Pusaka Jawa) and raised a popular Javanese literary work, namely Serat Wedhatama.
Serat Wedhatama, a literary work written by Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Arya Adipati (KGPAA) Mangkunagara IV, is a work full of piwulang about the concept of divinity and moral teachings in life and society. The manuscript of Serat Wedhatama kept at the Mangkunegaran Palace Library in Surakarta consists of 100 stanzas and is divided into several pupuhs, namely:
Pupuh Pangkur: 14 pada (stanzas)
Pupuh Sinom: 18 pada (stanzas)
Pupuh Pocung: 15 pada (stanzas)
Pupuh Gambuh: 35 pada (stanzas)
Pupuh Kinanthi: 18 pada (stanzas)
The event presented Prof. Dr. Hendrokumoro, M.Hum., as the speaker, and was attended by participants from various circles. In addition, Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., participated in developing Serat Wedhatama in the opening ceremony and several students of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program participated in playing gamelan, adding to the solemn atmosphere of the event. The liveliness of the participants in reading and developing Serat Wedhatama created an atmosphere full of beauty.
Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., and students performing Serat Wedhatama
Prof. Dr. Hendrokumoro, M.Hum, on the occasion, emphasized that Serat Wedhatama, with its philosophical values and moral messages, can be applied in daily life. However, the actualization needs to be considered so that it can be relevant to the current conditions.
Prof. Dr. Hendrokumoro, M.Hum. explaining Serat Wedhatama
Macapatan Jumat Legen aims to revive the Macapatan tradition and preserve this tradition for the younger generation. Preserving this tradition and extracting information from literary works such as Serat Wedhatama is an important step in improving the quality of public education. The collaboration of various parties, such as between the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program and the Pusaka Jawa UGM, is an effort to maximize these preservation efforts. Thus, the organization of Macapatan Jumat Legen is in line with the 4th and 17th points in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's).
On Monday, May 27, 2024, the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program held a field lecture in the framework of the Codicology course. This activity was held at Widyabudaya Library of Keraton Ngayogyakarta and Widyapustaka Library of Pura Pakualaman. The participants of this activity were students participating in the 2024 Kodikology course, guided by Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum., as the lecturer of the course.
In this field study, students had the opportunity to see and learn firsthand about manuscripts, archives, and preservation efforts. The first location visited was Widyabudaya of Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat. Here, students were first entertained with warm tea drinks typical of the Keraton Yogyakarta. After that, they were divided into four groups and guided by the abdi dalem to observe in depth the collection of manuscripts, archives, and the restoration process.
Students observed the explanation and enjoyed the banquet provided by the Keraton Ngayogyakarta.
The second location visited was the Widyapustaka Library of Pura Pakualaman. In this place, the participants were treated to jamu beras kencur and some traditional dishes. After enjoying the meal, the participants were given the opportunity to see the manuscript and archive collections. They also listened to explanations from librarians about the condition, aspects, and preservation of the manuscripts.
Students listen to explanations from the lecturers
The implementation of this field study went well and smoothly. The students were very enthusiastic, as seen from their high curiosity about various manuscript and archive collections, as well as the stages of revitalization. The purpose of this activity is as a preservation event in the form of introducing Indonesian culture, especially Javanese culture, to the younger generation. Thus, it is hoped that the love for the nation's culture in the younger generation will continue to grow and can be realized in real efforts to keep nguri-uri (preserve) and ngurip-urip (revive) the nation's identity.
The existence of various manuscripts and archives is a source of historical traces as well as a mirror of the cultural life of their time. Therefore, preserving historical evidence and extracting information from it needs to be done as a step to understanding the form of culture, knowledge, history, and glory of the archipelago. In addition, synergy from various parties is needed to realize this. This is in line with the fourth and seventeenth points of the Sustainable Development Goals, namely presenting and improving the quality of education and cooperation between partners to achieve goals.
