Thursday night (14/11/2024), the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program held a puppet show with the play Gajahmada Kridha (Ra Kuti Balela). The night was also the night of the awarding to the winners of the Temu Budaya Nusantara XXX competition, this puppet show was also held in commemoration of World Shadow Puppet Day. The puppet performance was held in Greenland, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. Masterminded by M. Rafi Nur Fauzy, a 2023 student of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program and in collaboration with the Surakarta Style Javanese Arts Unit (UKJGS) UGM, the Gajahmada Kridha puppet show went smoothly.

Based on an interview with Rafi, Gadjahmada Kridha (Ra Kuti Balela) tells the story of Gajah Mada's role in suppressing the rebellion of Ra Kuti, a Dharmaputra or courtier at that time. Ra Kuti's rebellion was based on dissatisfaction with King Jayanegara who was very weak and easily manipulated by his subordinates. This made some of his courtiers unhappy, including Ra Kuti. Ra Kuti wanted to restore the dignity of Majapahit at that time. However, it turned out that Ra Kuti's idea was not approved by the community so that the community considered that Ra Kuti was committing a rebellion. When Ra Kuti successfully occupied the capital, Jayanegara was escaped by Bhayangkara's troops. After strategizing, the Bhayangkara troops were able to turn the situation around and Ra Kuti died at the hands of Gajah Mada.

The rebellion carried out by Ra Kuti changed an Gajah Mada who was initially only a commander of soldiers then appointed as patih. The beginning of Ra Kuti's rebellion as Dharmaputra was caused by a divide and conquer, by Mahapati, a cunning person. He made a strategy so that all Majapahit predecessors were finished and Mahapati could steer the country, even though he did not want the position of king. Gajahmada, who knew Mahapati's guise, succeeded in making Mahapati die at the hands of Gajah Mada.

Puppet performance of Gajahmada Kridha (Ra Kuti Balela) by Rafi Nur Fauzy

There were many processes involved in writing the script for this puppet show. With the help of R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A., and Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., as academics and wayang practitioners, Rafi revealed “Initially I read Negara Kertagama but there was no explicit role of Gajah Mada in it. Then in consultation with Mr. Bima and Mr. Rudy, I was advised to read comics, tutur tinular, and Pararaton.” Being able to perform his own hand-drawn sanggit is a proud and enjoyable thing for Rafi. However, unfortunately there is a lack of appreciation from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences regarding this puppet performance. It is a good first step for the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program to organize a puppet show at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, especially to introduce students and residents of Universitas Gadjah Mada to puppetry.

It is hoped that with this wayang performance, more and more students and the general public will be interested in puppetry, because basically puppets in this globalization era are more flexible, not fixated on puppetry conventions. It does not require classical wayang, but it can also be contemporary according to each taste. For the younger generation to be able to love wayang from what they find interesting, it can be from the music accompaniment, the story, and the characters. There are many life lessons that can be learned from puppetry, which can be used for later life.

The 29th National Cultural Gathering was successfully held by I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa State Hindu University (UHN) which took place from Sunday to Friday, 5-10 November 2023. The theme carried at the 2023 National Cultural Gathering was "Sabda Budaya: Mukhti Luwir Nihan Segara", which means "Cultural Echo: Resounding Like the Ocean". The theme intends to highlight the richness of Indonesian culture which is still resounding in the midst of the current era of globalization. The activity lasted for five days with various agendas, including the National Conference, Wimbakara (Competitions), National Seminar, and ended with the Award Night as well as the closing of the 29th National Cultural Gathering.

In this 29th National Cultural Gathering, the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Gadjah Mada University (UGM), sent eight delegates to participate in the entire series of events. The UGM delegation consisted of Nurma Aisyah (class of 2021) as the head of the delegation, Vighna Rivattyannur Hernawan (class of 2020), Bima Muslih Wicaksono (class of 2022), Haryo Untoro (class of 2022), Kintan Dewinta Putri (class of 2022), Muhammad Siswoyo (class of 2022), Alma Syahwalani (class of 2023), and Meifira Arini Pitaloka (class of 2023).  

• 1st place in the Cultural Reporting competition (Alma Syahwalani)

The Cultural Reporting Competition raised the theme of Taman Sari Yogyakarta, a historic water park site, as a reflection of the splendor and majesty of Indonesian culture inherited to this day.

• 2nd place in the National Scientific Writing Competition (Haryo Untoro and Muhammad Siswoyo)

The National Scientific Writing Competition entitled Reflection of the Agrarian Tradition Entity in the Record of the Cowongan Song Lyrics, raised the lyrics of the Cowongan ritual song as a material object containing agrarian elements in the form of various kinds of plants and animals. These elements are then linked to their classification in Javanese culture and reveal the inheritance related to the names of these agrarian elements along with the agrarian mythology behind them.

• 2nd place in the Comic Strip competition (Meifira Arini Pitaloka)

The Comic Strip competition with the theme "environmental preservation based on local wisdom" tells the story of young people who want to reforest by paying attention to the philosophy of these plants.

• 3rd place in the Poetry Musicalization competition (Nurma Aisyah and Bima Muslih Wicaksono)

The Poetry Musicalization competition raised the theme "Sabda Budaya: Mukhti Luwir Nihan Segara" performing a poem by Muhammad Siswoyo about the beauty and majesty of the nation's culture. The poem was delivered with a reading combined with singing and musical accompaniment, thus mesmerizing the other participants.

• 3rd place in the Nusantara Tiktok competition (Kintan Dewinta Putri)

The Cultural Tiktok competition which features traditional games, including Dakon or Congklak, Bakiak, and games accompanied by cublek-cublek suweng songs.

The achievements of the UGM Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program in winning various competitions are a concrete manifestation of UGM Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Students in promoting, appreciating, and preserving the diverse cultures and traditions in Indonesia.

With the existence of the 29th National Cultural Gathering, it is hoped that it will motivate students to be interested in promoting these cultural and traditional heritages. Furthermore, this National Cultural Gathering activity can strengthen relations between students of regional literature study programs throughout Indonesia and implement sustainable development goals, especially in improving the quality of education.  

We thank all parties who have participated in the success of this event. Hopefully IMBASADI can continue to accommodate students majoring in regional literature throughout Indonesia in studying, developing and preserving the nation's culture.  

Indonesia is diverse, IMBASADI unites.

Cited directly from music.youtube.com

There is a viral song or Javanese song on social media entitled “Lela Ledhung”, this song is very much performed or used as a backsound for a video. Lela Ledhung is a song created by Markasan. The song was intended by Markasan as a lullaby, which later became quite popular in the post-independence period of the Republic of Indonesia. Lela Ledung went viral because of the Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra's performance at the 2024 State Sovereignty Day Concert. Lela Ledhung, which has a pelog tune, was arranged by ML. Widyoyitnowaditro (Joko Suprayitno, S. Sn., M. Sn.) into an orchestra format nicely.

Lela Ledhung is one example of a Javanese dolanan song. Tembang dolanan Jawa is a type of traditional song that is full of cultural values. Known as songs that are often played in children's games, tembang dolanan contain deep philosophies that not only teach moral values, but also preserve local wisdom through music. Tembang dolanan is an important part of the Javanese musical tradition, involving memorable wordplay and tones. The language used in tembang dolanan is simple and easy to pronounce, referring to Winarti (2010) tembang dolanan shows several language functions as a means of communication in Javanese.

Based on Winarti's research (2010) in the Widyaparwa Scientific Journal of Language and Literature on Dolanan Song Lyrics as a Form of Javanese Language Communication, several language functions exist in the song Lela Ledhung, which is:

• - Regulatory function

  The song Lela Ledhung has a regulatory function located in the lyrics “Cep menenga aja pijer nangis” which means to tell someone, because basically this regulatory function is characterized by the use of command words.

  - Interaction function

  Interaction words are often found in dolanan songs such as greetings and questions, such as in the lyrics “Anakku sing ayu rupane” which is a greeting for her beautiful-faced child.

  - Personal function

  Personal functions usually show about themselves, for example showing beautiful traits for their own children.

  - Heuristic function

  It is the use of language to gain knowledge and is educational in nature, for example “Dadia wanita utama” and “Dadia pendekaring bangsa”.

  - Imaginative function

  Giving ideas that are imaginative and imaginary, as in the lyrics “Kae bulane ndadari kaya ndhas buta nggilani” gives the imagination that the moon is big like a buta or giant.

  - Informative Function

  Many dolanan songs use language that contains information, giving statements or explaining something. An example in the song Lela Ledhung is found in the lyrics that if you become the main person, you can raise the degree and name of your parents.

  - Poetic Function

  A song created must contain elements of beauty in it, such as the use of rhyme and certain language styles or diction, for example “Tak emban slendhang bathik kawung” followed by “Yen nangis mundhak gawe confused” has the same rhyme “ung”.

The functions in Lela Ledhung also apply to other dolanan songs. Although the language used is simple, dolanan songs have many functions and values in them, which can provide teaching and lessons for social life. With the spirit of cultural preservation, Javanese dolanan songs are not only entertainment, but also an effective medium to convey noble teachings that are still relevant for modern life today.

REFERENCE LIST

Winarti, D. (2010). Lirik Lagu Dolanan Sebagai Salah Satu Bentuk Komunikasi Berbahasa Jawa: Analisis Fungsi. Widyaparwa, 38(1), 1-12.

After successfully becoming the Princess Cultural Ambassador of Yogyakarta 2024, Kintan Dewinta Putri, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program class of 2022, continued her struggle by representing the Special Region of Yogyakarta in the Indonesian Cultural Ambassador 2024 event. The search for the 2024 Indonesian Cultural Ambassador was held on September 19-21, 2024 in the city of Surabaya, East Java.

During the four-day event, Kintan received a lot of training and workshops such as how to build personal branding and material about skin health. Many activities were carried out by Kintan together with other Cultural Ambassadors from various regions, ranging from photoshoots to city tours. “I was feeling down and overthinking not being able to bring the title, but Alhamdulillah, I was still given the trust as the 1st Runner Up of the 2024 Indonesian Cultural Ambassador,” said Kintan regarding her impression.

Kintan Dewinta Putri wearing a typical Yogyakarta Besiyaran outfit

Kintan's experiences and achievements are expected to be a motivation for students of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, and be able to benefit the people around both now and in the future. Kintan conveyed a message that all young people should not be ashamed to start something because success must also begin with effort. Kintan added hope that the big family of Indonesian Cultural Ambassadors will be closer, maintained solidarity and unity among the diversity of Indonesian culture.

Kintan's steps as Yogyakarta Cultural Ambassador 2024 and 1st Runner Up Indonesian Cultural Ambassador 2024 should be an example for students and the general public regarding the role of preserving local culture. Not only Cultural Ambassadors have a duty to preserve culture, but it is an obligation for all levels of society. Increasing tolerance and strengthening unity can start as a good first step.