Thursday 26 May 2022The history of the Dieng Culture Festival (DCF) began with the idea of the Dieng Pandawa Tourism Awareness Group. This group seeks to combine the concept of culture and nature tourism vehicles, with the mission of empowering the Dieng people's economy. DCF was first held in 2010 in collaboration with Equator Sinergi Indonesia, Pokdarwis Dieng Pandawa and Dieng Ecotourism.
But actually, before the event titled Dieng Culture Festival, there was also a similar event, namely Dieng Culture Week which was held by the people and youth of Dieng Kulon. When entering the third year of Culture Week, the community took the initiative to create a tourism awareness group and changed the name of the event to Dieng Culture Festival.
Not only DCF, but this group is also active in introducing the community to the importance of tourism from various perspectives, one of which is from an economic perspective.
What exactly is the Dieng Culture Festival?
Dieng Culture Festival, as the name suggests is a Cultural Festival with the concept of synergy between elements of community culture, Dieng's natural tourism potential and empowerment of local communities as the basic mission of establishing the event. This event was initiated by a tourism awareness group by involving various elements of society and organizations / offices related to tourism in Dieng.
Dieng Culture Festival is the most hits festival in Central Java, or it could be claimed throughout Indonesia. The arts and culture festival initiated by the Dieng Kulon Banjarnegara Pokdarwis always attracts the interest of tens of thousands of people to come to the Dieng Plateau. Thousands of people sang together at the Jazz Atas Cloud moment and watched the ritual of shaving dreadlocks solemnly.
What's happening at the Dieng Culture Festival?
Dieng Culture Festival has a dreadlocks haircut ritual as the highlight of the event. Ruwatan is a purification procession that is very closely related to Javanese culture and customs.
The Dreadlocks Boy Ruwatan has more or less the same purpose, namely a ceremony or ritual that aims to ward off bad luck or bad luck for both the dreadlocks boy and the Dieng community in general.
Dreadlocks are a unique phenomenon that has existed in Dieng since time immemorial, where certain children aged between 40 days and 6 years naturally grow dreadlocks on their heads.
The people of the Dieng Plateau believe that the dreadlocked haired children are a gift from Kyai Kolo Dete. Kyai Kolo Dete was one of the officials / retainers in the Islamic Mataram period (in the fourteenth century) who was assigned to prepare the government in the Dieng Plateau region.
Arriving in the Dieng Plateau, Kyai Kolo Dete and his wife (Nini Roro Rence) received a revelation from the Queen of the South Coast. This couple is tasked with bringing the Dieng people to prosperity.
The benchmark for the welfare of the Dieng people will be marked by the presence of dreadlocked children. Since then, dreadlocks have appeared in the Dieng Plateau area.
The appearance of dreadlocks in a child will be characterized by high body heat for several days. The child's body temperature will normalize by itself in the morning, along with the appearance of dreads on the child's head. In everyday life, a child with dreadlocks is no different from other children.
They play together with other children. It's just that, children with dreadlocks usually tend to be more active than other children. At certain times, the emotions of a child with dreadlocks become out of control – it can be for no apparent reason. This tendency will decrease and even disappear when the child's dreads have been cut.
Prior to the haircut, prayer rituals will be performed in several places, including Dwarawati Temple, Arjuna Temple Complex, Maerokoco Springs, Gatotkaca Temple, Balaikambang Lake, Bima Temple, Sikidang Crater, Cave at Telaga Warna, Pepek River and Dieng burial place. The next day, the carnival was carried out to the shaving area.
During their tour of the village, these dreadlocked children were escorted by elders, community leaders, traditional arts association groups, and the community. In addition to cutting dreadlocks, DCF has a series of other events that are no less interesting, including Jazz Atas Awan which is now also a national event agenda, Dieng Film Festival, Lantern Festival, Drinking Purwaceng Together, DCF Camping, Dreadlocks Dance Send, Healthy Walk and Reforestation, as well as art and cultural exhibitions.
Dieng Lantern Festival
Release or flight of lanterns at Festival events. This is one of the most awaited moments. So why are so many people waiting for the lantern show? Many people wait because when this event feels very romantic.
Flying lights and lanterns decorate the beautiful night. In addition to these events, in this annual event there are also many performances. So, like shadow puppets, they also enliven the event. But such as leisurely walks and dances, local cultural dances also enliven the event.
And it only takes less than 1 month. This culture is included in the category of the Crocodile festival in Indonesia, and is now included in the Pesona Indonesia event calendar. There are so many cultural events in Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke.
Dieng is indeed one of the places that still hold strongly to their culture and customs, besides that the culture and customs there are also very interesting and attract tourists both from within and outside the country.
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An interesting culture indeed. I wish I could witness this one day when I have the chance to visit Indonesia.