JAKARTA, May 5, 2026 – The Center for Research on Society and Culture, Faculty of Humanities, University of Indonesia (PPKB FIB UI) demonstrated its tangible commitment to preserving national culture by attending the event “Lengger: Tradition, Body, and Interpretation.” The PPKB FIB UI delegation, led directly by the Head of PPKB, Dr. Ahmad Fahrurodji, S.S., M.A., along with a team of junior researchers, attended the event held at Bentara Budaya Jakarta on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
The event, organized by the Borobudur Writers & Cultural Festival (BWCF) Society in collaboration with Bentara Budaya, was part of the 2026 World Dance Day celebrations. The program combined artistic performances with public discussions exploring the position of Lengger Banyumas within a modern context.
The attendance of the PPKB FIB UI team in this forum aimed to delve into cultural dynamics where traditions like Lengger are no longer merely practiced as agrarian rites, but are beginning to be categorized and represented in modern language. Dr. Ahmad Fahrurodji and the junior researchers paid particular attention to how the body becomes a space for negotiating meaning and how cultural interpretations are shaped by various actors, including academics.
“Lengger Banyumas has long been known as a cultural practice thriving within the context of rites, social relations, and the agrarian landscape, reflecting harmony with nature and communal values,” as explained in the discussion materials. PPKB FIB UI recognizes the importance of academic involvement in understanding the emergence of the term lengger lanang as a meeting point between tradition, identity, and cultural politics.
During the event, the PPKB FIB UI team had the opportunity to listen to presentations from speakers across various perspectives, including Riyanto (Lengger artist and contemporary choreographer), Joned Suryatmoko (performing arts researcher), and Purnawan Andra (writer), with moderation by journalist Seno Joko Suyono.
Through this participation, PPKB FIB UI hopes to continue fostering spaces for critical dialogue and reflective awareness regarding how tradition is understood and represented in contemporary life. This support from PPKB FIB UI aligns with the institution’s mission to ensure that the preservation of tradition remains vibrant and relevant, rather than being reduced to a mere simplified commodity.
This activity was also supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, the Cilacap Regency Government, and other relevant parties, underscoring the importance of collaboration between research institutions, the government, and art practitioners in safeguarding the continuity of Indonesian culture.