A solemn yet profound atmosphere filled the air at Universitas Indonesia on Saturday (29/8). Starting at 7:00 AM WIB, the Makara Art Center (MAC) UI grounds played host to a cultural gathering titled “Wayangan Ruwat, Rawat Hutan”. The event stood as a collective effort to restore and safeguard nature, brought to life through a close collaboration between Komoenitas Makara, the Directorate of Culture UI, the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), Urban Spiritual Indonesia, and the Javanese Studies Program at the Faculty of Humanities (FIB) UI. Blending traditional arts with ecological awareness, the event invited the academic community and the general public to realign the harmony between humanity, culture, and the natural world.
Opening the day with deep spiritual value and traditional beauty, a cultural parade (kirab budaya) kicked off the festivities with a vibrant display of wastra (traditional textiles) from across the Indonesian archipelago. This sacred procession was led by the Director of Culture UI, Dr. Ngatawi Al-Zastrouw, alongside the Head of Komoenitas Makara, Fitra Manan.
Moving into the core of the event, the program seamlessly intertwined artistic performance, ritual, and deep reflection. The spiritual ambience deepened as cultural practitioner Ki Mugi Yusuf Raharjo led a prayer ceremony, invoking safety and blessings for the universe. This spiritual grounding was then paired with a wayang kulit performance featuring the tale of Bambang Sudamala, skillfully delivered by young puppeteer Ki Faqih Trisera Fil Ardhi, S.Hum. Beyond visual artistry and narrative storytelling, the gathering drew attendees into inner reflection through a meditation session guided by Prof. Dr. Turita Indah Setyani, S.S., M.Hum., a meditation practitioner from Urban Spiritual Indonesia. Through this inner purification, participants were invited to renew their intentions to actively heal the earth and protect the nation’s integrity.
The event reached a thought-provoking conclusion with a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) moderated by Dr. Ari Prasetyo, S.S., M.Hum. This panel brought together diverse leaders and experts, including Dr. Ngatawi Al-Zastrouw (Director of Culture UI), Dr. Lestari Moerdijat, S.S., M.Hum. (Deputy Speaker of MPR RI) who delivered her remark through video, Dr. Usman Kansong (Special Staff to the Deputy Speaker of MPR RI), Prof. Dr. Darmoko, S.S., M.Hum. (Professor at FIB UI), and Dr. Turita Indah Setyani, S.S., M.Hum. (Retired Lecturer from the Javanese Studies Program of FIB UI and CEO of Urban Spiritual Indonesia). Through an engaging dialogue, the speakers wove together academic insights, cultural wisdom, and environmental commitment.
The discussion reinforced the event’s core message: culture is far more than a relic of the past; it is a living path capable of rekindling humanity’s collective consciousness to care for and protect the natural world we call home. (AL)
