SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO PRESERVE KERIS, PT TWC HOLDS RATU BOKO KERIS FESTIVAL
In order to help preserve and develop cultural heritage in the form of keris, as well as provide education and increase public appreciation of keris, PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko (Persero) is working together with
The Lar Gangsir Keris Community held the Ratu Boko II Keris Festival. The event, which was held on October 16-18, 2020 at the Ratu Boko Tourism Park, Prambanan, Sleman, this time took the theme of the New Era Keris: Facing the Challenges of the New Era.
The event was symbolically opened by hitting the gong by GBPH Yudhaningrat and accompanied by Head of SPI PT TWC Widaryanti, GM Unit Ratu Boko Wiharjanto and chief executive Nilo Suseno.
PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan & Ratu Boko (Persero) as a state-owned company managing the cultural site area plays an active role in supporting cultural introduction activities for tourists.
"We strongly support activities that promote and preserve the arts and culture of the archipelago. Keris as an intangible world heritage that has been determined by UNESCO needs to be raised in its prestige, so that its philosophical values can be learned, especially by the younger generation. Hopefully, we will continue to hold this activity in the years to come," explained Widaryanti.
Meanwhile, GBPH Yudhaningrat hopes that in the coming year this festival can introduce keris in the archipelago. The diversity of keris is a cultural heritage that can increase the sense of love for the homeland and nation.
"Hopefully in the coming year the committee can bring keris from various regions, such as Bali, NTT and NTB which have special keris. The committee can schedule so that keris observers and enthusiasts can know what the keris in the archipelago are like," he said.
The festival's agenda includes a new keris exhibition, exchange, sungging warangka workshop, a discussion on "Empu Regeneration: Opportunities & Challenges" with resource person Basuki Teguh Yuwono, a warangka & pendok making demonstration, and a keris erection attraction.
In the keris exhibition, 70 new keris with various dhapur and pamor will be displayed. "The keris collection comes from various regions including Yogyakarta, Solo, Magelang, Malang, Madura, and Jakarta. In addition, we also display several new keris produced by friends of Isi Surakarta students." Nilo Suseno explained.
In its implementation amidst the current pandemic conditions, strict health protocols will be implemented such as the use of masks, maintaining distance and the availability of hand washing facilities. In addition, the exhibition area has also been cleaned and disinfected periodically. PT TWC is fully committed to maintaining the security and safety of tourists visiting the destinations it manages.
