Ganjar Pranowo Asks Cirebon Culture To Be Preserved And Developed

Ganjar Pranowo participated in dancing masks with artists at a meeting with Cirebon artists. (IST)

Sintren dancers dance beautifully to the rhythm of Cirebonan's typical music. Although still young, the Sintren dancers looked stunning in front of Ganjar Pranowo and thousands of people at the Cirebon Ranggajati Sports Hall, Saturday, June 3.

Their enthusiasm grew even more because among the thousands of spectators there were special guests. The presidential candidate for the PDIP and PPP coalition, Ganjar Pranowo, attended a cultural gathering with thousands of artists, culturalists, scholars, community leaders and religious leaders throughout Cirebon.

Applause accompanied the performance of the Sintren dancers after they finished performing. Not only that, other cultural arts performances that are no less interesting are presented in front of Ganjar. There are dances, mask dances, painting arts and other cultural arts.

Ganjar Pranowo was also invited up on stage to dance to his mask. Ganjar also danced, holding a mask in his hand.

"This mask is very good, made from wood and very smooth. Sorry I didn't wear the mask. Let the dancers wear it, because I'm not a dancer. A leader must show his real face, not his mask," said Ganjar to the applause of thousands of artists and cultural observers.

Ganjar said he was happy with the response of the people of Cirebon. Moreover, at every event he attends, there is always an art of culture that is displayed.

"Cirebon is a very strong base of tradition and culture. There are many, such as Mask Dance, Sintren, Gemyung, Genjring Rudat, Angklung Bungko and others. So if Bung Karno says we have to have a personality in culture, Cirebon is one of the biggest contributors," said Ganjar.

One of the many typical Cirebon arts that he thinks is very interesting is Genjring Rudat. This is because the tradition of pencak silat accompanied by rebanese music is growing in Islamic boarding schools in Cirebon. This art is an encouragement for fighters against the Dutch.

"I imagine if there was a cultural arts festival in Cirebon. It would be extraordinary, the cultural arts is good, the culinary is okay, the people are friendly. Top it," he explained.

Even so, traditional art is not only enough to be preserved. According to Ganjar, traditional art must be developed so that it is not restrained by the times.

"So invite young people to collaborate. I imagine, for example, the Sintren was collaborated with a modern band, a mask dance performance involving young creators, of course it will be even more interesting," he explained.

"So, in every generation new creations will emerge. However, these creations still maintain the traditional traditions and culture of the ancestors," he concluded.

Meanwhile, one of the Cirebon cultural observers, Nana Karmana, appreciated Ganjar's concern in the arts and culture sector. He hopes that Ganjar's concern will be maintained until he is elected president.

"We believe that Pak Ganjar Pranowo is able to raise the potential of Indonesian cultural arts, especially Cirebon, even better. Because there are still many potential cultural arts in Indonesia and Cirebon that have not been worked on seriously," he said.