The Faculty of Philosophy at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) once again held the Karawitan Festival and Nusantara Bazaar on July 19–20, 2025, as part of its 58th Anniversary celebration. This year, 47 karawitan groups took part, making the festival not only a lively cultural event but also an inclusive one, involving participants across generations—from children, teenagers, adults, to the elderly.
Of the 47 groups, 23 came from within UGM, including lecturers, educational staff, students, and Dharma Wanita. Meanwhile, 24 other groups represented communities outside the university, ranging from government institutions, local community groups, to general society. Some even came from outside Yogyakarta, such as the karawitan group KAGAMA, whose members are spread across various regions.
In her remarks, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Prof. Dr. Rr. Siti Murtiningsih, S.S., M.Hum., emphasized the festival as a shared space to nurture cultural values. “We hope this brings goodness and becomes a shared space so that we can continue to safeguard cultural values and ensure their preservation in our own land,” she said.
The Karawitan Festival and Nusantara Bazaar 2025 were also broadcast live on the UGM Philosophy YouTube channel, reaching a wider audience from various regions. The participating groups not only performed traditional songs and gendings but also enriched the festival with dances, choirs, and theatrical performances. This showed that karawitan continues to serve as an adaptive creative medium, relevant across generations and backgrounds.
Vice Rector for Education and Teaching, Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA., highlighted the importance of student involvement, as part of balancing knowledge and cultural activities in shaping student character.
“GPA alone is not enough to navigate the wilderness of life. To emerge as whole individuals, students need to be resilient. That resilience is also built through involvement in activities like this,” she explained.
The event also received appreciation from the Yogyakarta Special Region’s Cultural Office, represented by Padmono Anggoro Prasetyo, S.Sn., Head of the Division for Tradition and Arts Development. He emphasized that the festival reflects cultural preservation rooted in community initiatives rather than symbolic programs.
“Cultural preservation carried out organically by the academic community of the Faculty of Philosophy proves that culture is not merely a matter of the past, but also a way of life for the present and the future,” he stated.
Chair of the Committee, Dr. Sartini, M.Hum., noted the strong enthusiasm from the public. “Many have already registered to join next year. This shows that public interest in karawitan remains very strong. In fact, several groups from outside Yogyakarta are also eager to participate in the future,” she explained.
In addition to the karawitan performances, the festival also featured 27 MSMEs in the Nusantara Bazaar, offering local products such as traditional culinary delights, handicrafts, and creative works. The festival thus became a vibrant and welcoming space for cultural interaction.