Surakarta, (18/05/2023) – Coinciding with a national holiday, the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) held a field lecture to the Surakarta Hadiningrat Sunanate. This activity was attended by students taking Wayang Literature courses, who were accompanied by supervisors, namely Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., and R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.Hum.
Kasunanan Surakarta Hadiningrat at that time was holding the ritual of ngesis wayang, which means 'to dry or air the wayang'. This ritual of singing puppets is carried out in the Kyai Pramukanya puppet box which has existed since the reign of Sinuhun Paku Buwana (PB) II in the capital city of "nagari", Kartasura (1727-1745). Kiai Pramuka's puppet box is staged every Thursday because the puppet is a padintenan puppet or wayang that can be used in daily life.
Through Kori Kamandungan, field lecture participants entered the palace area. Before entering the core area of the palace, participants are required to wear Javanese clothing typical of Surakarta. In the Sasana Handrawina building, the tradition of puppet theater is held.
In its implementation, K.R.T Dr. Bambang Suwarno, a courtier and full-time lecturer from ISI Surakarta, also played a role in giving explanations to the participants. The participants were also allowed to observe and be actively involved in carrying out the ngesis tradition.
After participating in the ngesis tradition, the field lecture participants and supervisors had the opportunity to take a photo with Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Windansari, who is familiarly called Gusti Moeng.
(The field study participants and supervisors had the opportunity to take a group photo with Gusti Moeng)
Furthermore, the field lecture participants witnessed the process of putting the puppets into the puppet box of their Kiai Pramuka, and then the puppet box together with the abdi dalem was stored again.
With the existence of this field lecture activity, it is expected that the participants of the Puppet Literature course will be able to learn about cultural events, especially the puppet ngisis tradition in Kasunanan Surakarta Hadiningrat. In addition, participants can also understand the diversity of forms, characters, and narrative relationships in the form of wayang kulit, as well as awaken students' love for Indonesian art and culture.
