Traces Of The Young Pandemic In CHANDI 2025

DENPASAR - Among the boisterous stages of CHANDI 2025, three keris padepokans from Solo and Bali opened a small stand featuring a keris. The original weapon of the archipelago. One of the friendly Keris craftsmen or pandemics explains to visitors is a young figure. His name is Kadek Andika Permana Yoga, a pandemic keris, practitioner, as well as a metal craft teacher at SMK.

Andika is not just a craftsman. He was born from a pande lineage, a clan or descendant in Bali that has been holding the right to make keris for generations. If outside the descendants of the pandemic, it is okay to make, but usually less confident. There are consequences," he said on the sidelines of the 2025 CHANDI event at The Meru, Denpasar, Bali, Kamia, September 4.

Since studying at ISI Surakarta 2014, he has fallen in love with the world of keris. His interest is getting stronger because he sees only a few elderly pandes left in Bali: Pande Subarta, Pande Nala Pekak, and Pande Mudra. But that was first. Now, according to him, the younger generation is starting to rise. There are even women who are diligent in pursuing kris crafts.

At the CPANDI 2025 stand, Andika explained the difference between Java and Bali keris. "Jawa Keris is about 36 cm long, it looks like cassava leaves. Meanwhile, Bali keris, called balo, is similar to bamboo shoots," he said. Difference is also seen in warangka: Bali keris called Batun Poh, inspired by dynamic mangoes.

The process makes keris panjang. From the sea iron sand that is burned into a lump, forged until the blades are shiny. The fire is kept with charcoal teak or bamboo so that the temperature is stable. The motifs of prestige were born in two ways. Some appeared naturally (sore), some were formed according to the design (kayasa). The price of one keris blades now reaches Rp5 10 million, depending on the ingredients, processes and results. This does not include warangka.

For Andika, keris is not just an heirloom or weapons object. He is a way of life, identity binding, and cultural heritage. By bringing Brojobuwono's pavilion from Solo and Prapen Swarnalingga and Prapen Namibia from Bali, he feels that he participates in maintaining the breath of tradition in world events. Keris is a legacy. If the younger generation does not want to continue, this heirloom can be lost," he said firmly.

In CHANDI 2025, the sound of a hammer hitting the iron feels like a traditional heartbeat. From the hands of a young pandemic like Andika, the legacy finds a new life.