Kelanawisata.id, Yogyakarta — The 31st Yogyakarta Gamelan Festival (YGF) was successfully held at Plaza Pasar Ngasem in Yogyakarta, once again reaffirming its position as a key gathering place for gamelan practitioners, enthusiasts, and communities from various regions and around the world. Throughout the event, the festival featured 15 performances by various gamelan communities, attracting thousands of spectators from Friday evening through Sunday evening.

The 31st YGF showcased various forms of exploration and expression in gamelan music, demonstrating that this cultural heritage continues to evolve with the times without abandoning its traditional roots. Thousands of visitors who packed Plaza Pasar Ngasem enjoyed performances that presented a variety of musical approaches, ranging from traditional formats to cross-cultural collaborations.

On Saturday night (August 2), the festival featured five main performances that garnered significant attention from the audience. These five performances came from the Workshop Presentation, HMJ Santikara ISI Yogyakarta, the Lelana Group from the Netherlands, Kiai Kanjeng, and the Joyo Karyo Art Studio from Banyuwangi.

The workshop presentation offered a unique experience through the concept of gamelan for mindful listening meditation, inviting participants to experience gamelan as a medium for relaxation and wellness meditation as well as a means of musical expression.

The festival atmosphere grew even more lively when the music group Kiai Kanjeng took the stage before the audience. The group, widely known for its work with the late Emha Ainun Nadjib, was one of the most anticipated performances of the evening. Meanwhile, the Joyo Karyo Art Studio from Banyuwangi showcased the richness of regional performing arts, further enriching the festival’s cultural diversity.

The festival’s chairperson, Lanoke, explained that YGF continues to open up opportunities for collaboration among gamelan communities from various countries. This year’s festival featured the participation of communities from the Netherlands and France. In addition to official invitations, several groups also actively volunteered to participate, viewing YGF as a vital space for sharing ideas and experiences in gamelan music.

“YGF serves as a meeting place for various gamelan communities. Some we invited directly, while others volunteered to perform because they see this festival as an open platform for the development of gamelan,” she said.

YGF itself has a long history in the cultural landscape of Yogyakarta. For more than three decades, the festival has moved and evolved across various venues, from the PKKH UGM, the Gayam 16 area near Radio Geronimo, to Embung Giwangan during YGF’s 30th-anniversary celebration. This year, Plaza Pasar Ngasem was chosen as the venue, highlighting the close connection between the community’s cultural and economic spaces.

The presence of Hartono, Head of the Banyuwangi Culture and Tourism Office, served as a sign of support for the festival. According to him, selecting Plaza Pasar Ngasem as the festival venue was the right decision because it brings broader benefits to the surrounding community.

“I appreciate the organization of this YGF. The well-integrated placement of the stage within the market area has a positive impact. There are many MSME operators here, so this event not only serves as a platform to appreciate artists but also provides economic opportunities for the community and business operators in the surrounding area,” said Hartono.

He also emphasized the importance of preserving gamelan as a globally recognized part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage. “Gamelan has become a cultural heritage that we must continue to develop, preserve, and protect together,” he added.

The success of the 31st YGF serves as proof that gamelan still holds a place in modern society. This festival not only features artistic performances but also serves as a space for education, collaboration, and cultural renewal. Amid UNESCO’s recognition of gamelan as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2021, the YGF continues to play a vital role in preserving the tradition while expanding its reach to an international level.

Through the participation of local, national, and international communities, the 31st Yogyakarta Gamelan Festival once again demonstrates that gamelan is not merely a relic of the past, but a living culture that continues to evolve, connecting people across generations, and serving as a cultural identity for Indonesia that remains relevant to this day.