Keris Diversity In The 2022 Jogja International Heritage Festival

Illustration - Visitors see a kris from the Singosari kingdom on display in a kris exhibition titled Kinatah Emas in Malang, East Java, Friday (17/6/2022). ANTARA/Ari Bowo Sucipto/zk

YOGYAKARTA - The Government of the Special Region of Yogyakarta raised the preservation of the keris cultural heritage in Yogyakarta and the archipelago as the theme of the "Jogja International Heritage Festival 2022" on August 22 to 26.

"The choice of this theme is based on the awareness that the diversity of kris in Yogyakarta and the archipelago needs to be appreciated as a masterpiece of noble culture as well as national identity," said Head of the DIY Culture Service, Dian Lakshmi Pratiwi, as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 16.

The stickiness of the keris in the culture of the people, he said, is reflected in several cultures, such as in the Javanese ethnic community, especially Yogyakarta, where the position of the keris is still often worn in special ceremonies or rituals.

"Kerises are often considered as heirlooms and are commonly passed down from generation to generation. Of course, the narrative of spiritualism and mythology seems rich in developing around this traditional weapon," he said.

Dian said that the Jogja International Heritage Festival (JIHF) is held regularly by taking cultural heritage objects that have been designated by UNESCO such as batik, keris in turn.

This activity, according to him, is also the implementation of the Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage (Ratification of Presidential Decree No. 78 of 2007).

In the proposal for submitting the keris as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage and Humanity" by UNESCO in 2004, Dian said, the keris principally has five functions in Indonesian society, namely tradition, social function, art, philosophy, and mystical.

According to him, there were 15 ethnicities or regions in Indonesia that became the proponents of the proposal, namely Java, Madura, Bali, Sasak-Lombok, Sumbawa, Palembang, Jambi, Minangkabau, Banjar (South Kalimantan), Kutai, Bugis and Toraja.

The diversity of kris in Indonesia, he said, encouraged the JIHF 2022 activity with the theme "Keris Jogja and the Archipelago, National Identity in Diversity".

"The function and role of the important value of the keris will directly or indirectly affect the civilization that continues to develop. Efforts to protect, develop and utilize the important value of the keris for a better civilization are very important," he said.

According to him, JIHF 2022 will be opened with the inauguration of Grha Keris Yogyakarta by Sultan HB X.

This was followed by webinars, kris exhibitions and exchanges, kris drawing competitions, kris photo competitions, and kris warangka competitions.

"The application and implementation of the important values of the keris will make an important contribution to the advancement of civilization in the current era of globalization," he said.