Bendrong Watu Blencong Festival: Reinterpreting Cultural Wisdom in Jatimulyo Village
The Bendrong Watu Blencong Festival highlights two cultural elements: Bendrong, a simple pattern of gendhing karawitan used in various forms of art, and Watu Blencong, a site that serves as a place for shadow puppet masters to meditate and holds symbolic meaning as a source of light in wayang performances.
Jatimulyo Village, designated as a tourism village by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, has tourism potential based on its biodiversity, geodiversity, and sustainable arts and culture. This area has been included in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since October 28, 2020, thus functioning as a conservation zone that supports research, education, and sustainable cultural practices. In the context of cultural advancement, Jatimulyo Village can develop its arts and cultural potential while maintaining ecological balance, which aligns with the sustainable tourism conceptis in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Watu Blencong site, a large stone resembling a lamp used in wayang performances, has profound symbolic meaning as a illumination source. Over time, the function and form of the blencong have evolved, including in artistic practices. Meanwhile, the Bendrong gendhing, traditionally used as an accompaniment to the Topeng Klana dance, features a repetitive pattern that is simple yet substantial in traditional arts. The spread of the Bendrong gendhing across various regions has made it an essential element in expressing traditional arts.
The cultural values embedded in the symbols of Blencong and Bendrong gendhing need to be reinterpreted by modern developments. Law No. 5 of 2017 on Cultural Advancement emphasizes that culture must be protected, developed, utilized, and fostered to remain relevant and contribute to national cultural resilience. This effort requires a pentahelix collaboration involving academics, business practitioners, arts communities, the government, and the media to support cultural advancement.
Performing Arts and Fine Arts Studies at UGM conducted a community service initiative through the Bendrong Watu Blencong Festival at Omah Watu Blencong, Jatimulyo Village. The event was supervised by the Program Director, Dr. Rr. Paramitha Dyah Fitriasari, M.Hum. The activities included workshops on Bendrong karawitan, Blencong, eco-printing, a discussion forum, an art exhibition, and performances involving the local community. The festival was held from November 17-19, 2023, It was led by Muhammad Yudi Eko Nugroho in collaboration with the Kulon Progo Tourism Office, to enhance the arts and cultural potential and ecological ecosystem as the main attractions of the Jatimulyo Tourism Village.
