YOGYAKARTA - For the first time, the government celebrates the Commemoration of Cultural Day as proof of its commitment to make the main pillar culture of national development. Themed "Celebrating Diversity", the celebration was held at the Fort Vredeburg Museum, Yogyakarta, Thursday, October 16.
The event was attended by Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha Djumaryo, representative of the DI Yogyakarta Regional Government, cultural figures, academics, artists, and the community. Also present were the leadership of the Ministry of Culture, including the Secretary General of Prof. Bambang Wibawarta; Director General of Cultural and Traditional Protection, Restu Gunawan; Director General of Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cultural Cooperation, Endah TD Retnoastuti; as well as a number of expert staff and heads of the Cultural Preservation Center.
In its cultural oration, Minister Fadli Zon emphasized that the determination of Cultural Day is the aspiration of cultural actors to celebrate the diversity of national expressions.
"The determination of Cultural Day on October 17 is the result of a long discussion with artists, culturalists, and cultural activists throughout the archipelago," he said.
Fadli added that this policy is in line with President Prabowo Subianto's vision to place culture as the nation's pulse. During almost one year of existence, the Ministry of Culture succeeded in reviving cultural expressions from various regions. Cultural Day, he said, was a symbol of that revival.
The series of events held by the Directorate General of Cultural and Traditional Protection took place collaboratively and participatively: ranging from Ruwatan Nusantara and prayer across indigenous peoples, theatrical performance, cultural oration, to cultural carnivals from Sabang to Merauke.
The determination of October 17 as a Cultural Day is stated in the Decree of the Minister of Culture Number 162/M/2025. This date coincides with the birth of the motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika and the signing of a Government Regulation on the symbol of the state of Garuda Pancasila by President Soekarno in 1951. This momentum reinforces the role of culture in strengthening identity, fostering the spirit of unity, and maintaining cultural heritage in the midst of the dynamics of the times.
As a form of appreciation, the Minister of Culture confers the Minister of Culture Award to a number of institutions that contribute to maintaining cultural flames: including Senawangi for National Wayang Day, SNKI for Keris Day, PaSKI for Comedy Day, Poem Day Foundation, ATL for Pantun Day, AMI for Indonesian Museum Day, and Team Nine Garuda for Cultural Day.
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Closing his oration, Fadli Zon invites the entire community to maintain the fire of culture so that it continues to burn in the midst of the flow of global civilization.
A great nation is a nation that does not forget its cultural roots. Let's work together to advance culture to be more creative, competitive, and have strong roots in tradition," he concluded.
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