"Sartaka" Session

The next event was "Semedi" or a study program seminar. The "Semedi" session took place at 13.00 WIB-14.50 WIB. In the study program seminar, participants gained a deeper understanding of the three areas of specialization in the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, namely philology, linguistics, and literature. The three areas of specialization were explained by the lecturers who taught each of these areas of specialization. The lecturers who attended the activity included Dr. Daru Winarti, M.Hum., Dr. Djarot Heru Santoso, M.Hum., Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M,Hum., Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, M.Hum., R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.Hum., Nurmalia Habibah, S.S., M.A., and Imam Prakoso, S.S., M.A. Various questions were asked by the participants to the lecturers, illustrating a deep curiosity about each of the three areas of specialization.

"Semedi" Session

Afterward was the core event of Abhiseka Kramasisya, namely the inauguration. The inauguration session took place at 15.20 WIB-17.00 WIB and was carried out by carrying out the siraman procession. Participants took turns undergoing the siraman procession. With the implementation of the siraman procession, participants officially became part of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program Family. In addition, the participants also received the  Himpunan Mahasiswa Jurusan Keluarga Mahasiswa Sastra Jawa (HMJ Kamastawa) korsa. 

"Siraman" Session

The next session was "Kala Nrtya" or an art performance which was held at 18.20 WIB-19.30 WIB. In this session, the participants who had been divided into four groups had to present a performance, be it drama, music, dance, etc. The atmosphere at the art performance was very lively and so warm, and the appearance of the four groups was very stunning. After "Kala Nrtya", the next session was "Abhimata" or awarding. The Abhimata session contained several nominations, including the most exciting group, the most compact group, and other nominations. The last session was the closing which ended with a group photo, with the intention of capturing the moment of togetherness.

"Kala Nrtya" Session

With the implementation of the 2023 Abhiseka Kramasisya series, it is hoped that new students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program can love their homeland more and participate in the preservation of the archipelago's culture, especially Javanese culture. It is hoped that the inaugurated students can channel their concern for the archipelago's culture through educational, research, and community service activities so as to create superior, accomplished, dignified student characters, and participate in improving the quality of education in Indonesia.

Cited directly from tby.jogjaprov.go.id

Rafael Raga Budi Panuntun, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program class of 2021, successfully became the scriptwriter and director of a theater entitled “Ngathabagama” with the theme Panji which brought Sleman Regency to win the overall champion and best presenter in the 2024 DIY Provincial Theater Festival. Ngathabagama Theater was nominated as the best presenter, best director, best music director, best artistic director, best ensemble, and brought home the rotating trophy of the DIY Theater Festival.

Rafael Raga Quoted from instagram account @rafaelragabp

Raga's success should be an inspiration, in the midst of his academic busyness, Raga can still work and create a beautiful theater and become the best presenter. The process carried out by Raga is quite long, starting from initiating ideas, writing scripts, and so on. Ngathabagama Theater is a theater that was formed by accident, starting from a theater festival at the Sleman Regency level. Kapanewon Minggir has been the champion in Sleman Regency for 2 consecutive years. In 2023, Kapanewon Minggir presented a theater titled "Hagbala" with the theme of Yogyakarta, History and, Romanticism which was also written and directed by Rafael Raga Budi Panuntun, even 50% of this theater is self-made, starting from production, music, artistic, fashion, and others. Hagbala succeeded in winning the 1st place at the Sleman Regency level and the 3rd place at the DIY Province level.

After successfully becoming a champion with Hagbala in 2023. In 2024, Rafael Raga and Kapanewon Minggir advance to participate in the theater festival again in Sleman Regency. Raising Ngathabagama as the title of the presented theater, again succeeded in becoming the champion. Raga revealed that he wrote his script and ideas during KKN (Real Work Lecture) activities. This shows that with all his busyness, Raga was able to create an extraordinary work that was unexpectedly led him to become the best presenter in the 2024 DIY Theater Festival.

The theme of the 2024 DIY Theater Festival refers to the technical instructions from the DIY Cultural Service (Kundha Kabudayan) which is Panji. Panji's romance and love with Sekartaji are brought into a theater. However, Raga revealed that he wanted Ngathabagama to be taken from another point of view, namely that the story of Panji and Sekartaji who always got a blessing from a nature or can be called the absolute destiny of God. Raga did research and found that Panji and Sekartaji always get a destiny that separates them, whether separated by time, someone, or circumstances.

The script that Raga wrote did not escape Raga's consultation with the lecturer of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., an academic and Wayang Gedhog practitioner who uses the theme of Panji and Sekartaji. With the conversation that Raga did with Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., will strengthen the story and can be held accountable for its validation.

After doing a lot of research and discussion, Raga found that Panji and Sekartaji are always separated by fate, one of them is separated by the god Bathara Kala which is represented as Kala is time. Raga got an unusual idea, which is working on the Panji theater this time by showing Bathari Durga or the mother of Bathara Kala who gives wiradat to Panji and Sekartaji and separates the two of them to get a stronger essence.

Raga crossed between Wayang Gedhog and Wayang Purwa to find out the weakness of Bathari Durga. The weakness of Bathari Durga is Semar or Sang Hyang Ismaya, Semar can defeat Bathari Durha by reciting the way of the guardian, to prevent further evil. Caraka walik is a Javanese script (Hanacaraka) that is read backwards, believed to be able to ward off bad things, Raga took the title of the theater this time from the first line of caraka walik, Ngathabagama.

Many Javanese chronicles, both fiction and non-fiction, place the central story of Panji and Sekartaji. Raga's knowledge of various kinds of Javanese literary works made him confident to write this script. The story of Panji and Sekartaji has not only become the wealth of the Nusantara but for the whole of Southeast Asia. There are also many essences of Wayang Purwa that are raised for Ngathabagama theater, such as Semar, Bathari Durga, the role of the gods, the urning of the nature of the wiradat, a romance story that has many relationships with literary works, and local wisdom such as the use of caraka walik which is widely known to expel or restore bad circumstances.

Not only the presentation of Ngathabagama theater, Raga also created an original soundtrack for Ngathabagama with the title "Kalasmara" which supports the dialogue between Panji and Sekartaji. This Kalasmara was created by Raga to archive theatrical presentations that have been carried out so that they still have a different essence. Raga added that he did not want a stage to only end in 30 minutes to 1 hour on stage, but to have another form of work that can forever be a memory and archive in the future.

The story of Raga in the creation of performing arts based on Javanese literary works is expected to be able to inspire students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program to be able to create and utilize the knowledge that has been obtained. Many works of art can be created equipped with knowledge from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program.

Dening: M. Rafi Nur Fauzy

akeh wong kang padha têka

nggawa darma amêjang mring sireki

nyata goro kumatungkul

kagunggung sukeng tyasnya

datan dunung ing sarak sanyatanipun

mula sire den prayitna

nulya amundura kaki

Dening: Fauzan Adi Fadurrahman

Sinasmita sêrat iki

minangka criyos sih smra

pêpengêt kang wus kadados

wit ing wyata gajah mada

nagri Ngayogyakarta

kang candrasêngkalanipun

wrêkseng tlaga bêdhah tunggal

nendra raka laksanani

den wêwayang suryanira

kalaning rêm netra katon

manising esêm gupita

syara mrêdu bêbungah

pijana datan ngrêridhu

yahagen kang raka rasa

On Monday night (08/19/2024), the Faculty of Philosophy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), organized a shadow puppet show in the framework of the anniversary of the Faculty of Philosophy. The performance featured a special play, Gajah Mada Suci, which was performed collaboratively by UGM students who are members of the UGM Surakarta Style Javanese Arts Unit (UKJGS). One of the important roles in this performance was carried out by M. Rafi Nur Fauzy, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program class of 2023, chosen to perform a play that was collaboratively worked on by the academics community of Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The script for the performance of Gajah Mada Suci was written by Dr. Rudy Wiratama S.I.P., M.A., lecturer of Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. Gajah Mada Suci tells the story of the scapegoating of Gajah Mada under the pretext of the failure of the Majapahit Kingdom expansion. The expansion also coincided with the kingdom's internal political turmoil. To make matters worse, Gajah Mada was accused by the elites of trying to remove him from the kingdom. As a result, Gajah Mada felt desperate and afterward he visited the residence of his friend, Mpu Tantular. After a long dialog, Gajah Mada was finally enlightened, that the efforts he had made so far were not in vain. The spirit of Amukti Palapa to unite the archipelago will continue in the next era. 

Handover of the Gajah Mada puppet from the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Dr. Rr. Siti Murtiningsih, S.S., M. Hum, to M. Rafi Nur Fauzy. (Quoted from the Faculty of Philosophy Youtube Channel (01:22:51): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03x2lmMinTY).

“The performance of the Gajah Mada Suci is a form of depiction of the Indonesian nation that has experienced an identity crisis by winning over an interest and power through any means. Gajah Mada, who was a knight, finally moksa due to the deviant behavior of the Majapahit elite. After that, the Majapahit Kingdom lost its authority and then receded until it reached its collapse,” explained Rafi in an interview (05/09/2024).

As a special play, Rafi and his fellow UKJGS students practiced hard for a maximum performance. “The performance of Gajah Mada Suci has its own challenges for us. We practiced preparing for the performance in only half a month. Plus, this is my first time to play the Gajah Mada puppet, so it must be carefully prepared.”

“With these challenges, Alhamdulillah, the show can run smoothly. It was a great experience for me,” he continued.  Rafi hopes that the Gajah Mada puppet show will be held continuously because it is the work and identity of UGM as well as containing values that need to be socialized.

The existence of the Gajah Mada puppet is a real effort to promote the history and culture of the archipelago while still applying its relevance to the times. Through culture, we are not only 'displaying' aesthetics, but also reaffirming the nation's identity through noble values for a better Indonesia.

Author: Haryo Untoro

Image Source

Fakultas Filsafat. (2024, August 19). Pagelaran Wayang Kulit Dies Natalis ke-57 Fakultas Filsafat UGM. [01:22:51]. Accessed from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03x2lmMinTY.

Full screenshot from Universitas Gadjah Mada. (2024, July 24). Wisuda Program Pascasarjana Periode IV Tahun Akademik 2023/2024 – Juli 2024. Youtube. [4:58] Accessed from: https://www.youtube.com/live/nweng5dXFHw?si=5tdXNqMIomqbgBBQ

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.

Full screenshot from Universitas Gadjah Mada. (2024, July 24). Wisuda Program Pascasarjana Periode IV Tahun Akademik 2023/2024 – Juli 2024. Youtube. [5:39] Accessed from https://www.youtube.com/live/nweng5dXFHw?si=5tdXNqMIomqbgBBQ

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.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Desatepus.gunungkidulkab.go.id (2023, September 07), Cucuk Lampah dalam Pernikahan Jawa: Simbolisme dan Tradisi yang Mengesankan. Diakses pada 29 Juli 2024, dari https://desatepus.gunungkidulkab.go.id/first/artikel/2708-Cucuk-Lampah-dalam-Pernikahan-Jawa--Simbolisme-dan-Tradisi-yang-Mengesankan#:~:text=Cucuk%20Lampah%20adalah%20salah%20satu,keindahan%20dan%20makna%20dalam%20pernikahan.

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.

Yogyakarta (05/14/2024) - The first day of the 13th Gugur Gunung was successfully held on Monday, May 13, 2024, at Margono Hall, 1st floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Jawaisme Fest, which is part of this event, managed to attract the attention of various groups, ranging from mahadaya, inculs students, FIB staff, to high school students visiting FIB UGM.

Jawaisme Fest is an exhibition of Javanese art, literature and culture. Some of the cultural products on display are archipelago manuscripts, Javanese traditional daily clothing or Yogyakarta-style padintenan, shadow puppets, gamelan sets, weton procedures, traditional games, and various other cultural products.

The Nusantara manuscripts on display include Javanese manuscripts, illustrated lontar manuscripts from Bali, and imitations of Batak manuscripts. Shadow puppets with Pandawa (Yudistira, Bima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sadewa) and Punakawan (Semar, Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong) characters were also present to welcome visitors. Some of the gamelan instruments displayed included saron, kendhang ciblon, kethuk, kempul, and gong. Traditional games such as yoyo, othok-othok hammer, othok-othok boat, bekel, ketapel or plintheng, bas basan, gasing, and various other games bring a nostalgic impression of the past. The Javanese procedures displayed, including the life cycle from birth to death and an introduction to weton, succeeded in sparking visitors' curiosity to find out more.

Javanese Shadow Puppet

Gamelan Instruments

Javanese Traditional Fashion Yogyakarta Style

Replika Naskah Batak

The various cultural products on display attracted the interest of the visitors. They showed their enthusiasm through various questions asked to the stand guards. Visitors were also given the opportunity to try various traditional games, hold and play shadow puppets, sound gamelan instruments, see Nusantara manuscripts, and try their luck at the lucky draw booth.

Two high school students learning about shadow puppets

Traditional othok-othok boat game attracts the attention of inculs students

Weton introduction to female students

Jawaisme Fest will still take place on the second day of Gugur Gunung 13, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, from 09.00 to 15.00 WIB. The second day will be even more special with the performance of a Jathilan dance drama entitled “Turangga Sastra Nuswantara” by the students of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. The Jathilan dance drama performance will be even more interesting with the presence of Lala Atila, a famous campursari singer, who will sing in the performance. So, let's get ready for Gugur Gunung 13!

Yogyakarta (05/16/2024) - The second day of Gugur Gunung 13, precisely on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, became an unforgettable moment for all residents of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM). Not without reason, because students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program collaborated in a team called 'Turangga Sastra Nuswantara' to perform Jathilan Dance Drama on the peak day of Gugur Gunung 13.

The Jathilan Dance Drama performance was held at 04.00 PM –05.30 PM WIB on the stage located in Greenland. Each side of the stage was packed with members of the academic community who were interested in the Jathilan Dance Drama performance. The performance of popular art became livelier with the presence of Lala Atila as the sinden of the Jathilan Dance Drama.

Jathilan Dance Drama is a performance of Jathilan dance, an art that is closely related to the use of jaran kepang, or lumping horse, and contains drama about Javanese mythology. The legend of Javanese mythology is the legend of Ajisaka and his battle with Dewata Cengkar, a giant king in the kingdom of Medang Kamulan. The production of the Jathilan Dance Drama was led by R. Raga Budi Panuntun, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program class of 2021, and directed by Yulian Kethus from the Kidung Cakrawala Art Studio.

Enthusiasm of mahadaya

Before the performance began, at 03.00 PM WIB, the performers and staff held a jaran bath and prayer together at Wisdom Park. Afterward, a cultural procession was carried out along the route from Wisdom Park to FIB through the north door.

Kirab Budaya to the Faculty of Cultural Sciences

The folk-art performance was opened by R. Sukoco, an alumnus of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, as the narrator. There were various speeches delivered by Idharul Huda, as the chairman of Gugur Gunung 13, Dr. Daru Winarti, Head of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, and Prof. Dr. Setiadi, S.Sos., M.Si, dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. The event continued with the traditional ceremony of kupat luwar or luwaran kupat, as a form of releasing all things that are not good so that the event can run smoothly.

Kupat Luwar or Luwaran Kupat Procession

The next event was the presentation of the Jathilan Dance Drama which managed to amaze the entire audience. The audience seemed to really enjoy it, even dancing to the music of the Jathilan dance. The highlight of this presentation was the scene of the battle between Aji Saka and Dewata Cengkar. The thrilling battle and Aji Saka's stunning victory drew thunderous applause from all directions.

The end of the Jathilan Dance Drama performance also marked the end of the 13th Gugur Gunung. Various beautiful and fun moments have occurred during Gugur Gunung 13. We would like to thank the enthusiasm and support from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, sponsors, mahadaya, and the entire academic community of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. May the culture of the archipelago be preserved and continue to live from time to time. See you at Gugur Gunung 14.

Developing interest in learning Javanese fiction writing among students is one of the good efforts made by the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. This effort is reflected through the organization of structured courses. However, the study program makes other efforts to identify hidden talents, improve students' basic competencies, and ensure the sustainability of this interest. One of them is to bring students closer to writers and authors who are qualified in this field through writing training and mentoring activities.

The open offer was conveyed to students through a class communication group. The class community has been formed in the context of training activities in writing children's stories by Budi Sardjono (Gubug Nyawang Giri), a qualified author under the pseudonym Agnes Yani Sardjono. This activity was held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, starting at 07.30 WIB until completion at Gubug Nyawang Giri-Sleman, in collaboration with PASBUJA (Paguyuban Sastra dan Budaya Jawa) Kawi Merapi Sleman through its Sleman School of Literature (S3). This community is supported by the community service program organized by Wiwien W. Rahayu, a lecturer in the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program since 2022, on an ongoing basis.

The offer did not receive a variety of responses, except from six students who were interested in seizing the opportunity. These students are Dian Nitami, Maysa Putri, Siti Nurhayati, Pingky Putri, Ilman Nafia, and Nisrina Dyah.

"I want to learn to be a writer, develop ideas, and be interested in writing children's stories," was Nisrina's reason for accepting the offer. Another reason for Maysa's participation was ".to use it to raise my intention, enthusiasm, and motivation to write," she explained. The same thing was also conveyed by Ilma Nafia and Dian Nitami. The positive energy given by the author through the story of his experience is one of the attractions of the students' participation.  It could be that this can trigger a passion for fiction writing among Javanese Literature Study Program students. So that in the future, the response to existing opportunities will be more optimal.

Not just a hobby, the choice to become a writer is one of the offers made to students. The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program is committed to providing strategic programs to support the development of fiction writing skills. The fulfillment of this is done seriously and continuously through the development of partnerships with various parties. Through the implementation of the tri dharma of higher education, this goal is expected to be achieved.