RRI.CO.ID, Jembrana - The cultural landscape of Jembrana, Bali, has reached a significant milestone with the official designation of two more local traditions as National Intangible Cultural Heritage (WBTB). The Indonesia Ministry of Culture recently certified the "Payas Dirga" bridal attire and the "Loloan" handwoven fabric, bringing the regency’s total count of protected cultural assets to ten.

This recognition underscores Jembrana’s unique position as a melting pot where diverse ethnic influences have fused into a distinct regional identity over centuries.

Head of the Jembrana Tourism and Culture Agency, Anak Agung Komang Sapta Negara, confirmed the achievement in Negara on Monday, March 9, 2026. He highlighted that the Payas Dirga bridal wear is a historical relic of the local monarchy, first worn in 1940 for the wedding of the son of the VII Raja of Jembrana.

The attire is a rare aesthetic blend of Balinese, Javanese, Chinese, and Malay influences. "Its uniqueness lies in the use of the now-rare mendori flower and the distinctive gelung tanduk (horn-shaped) headpiece," explained Sapta Nagara, as quoted by Antara.

Parallel to the royal finery, the Loloan handwoven fabric was honored for its role as a powerful representation of the Bugis-Malay community that has inhabited Jembrana for generations.

Steeped in strict customary rules, the weaving process forbids the use of animal or human motifs. Instead, the fabric features intricate plant-based and geometric patterns, symbolizing the character of the Loloan people, which is firm, polite, and deeply religious.

"A total of ten Jembrana cultural traditions have now received WBTB certificates. The latest two are the Payas Dirga bridal attire and the signature Loloan woven fabric," said Sapta Negara.

The road to national certification is famously rigorous, requiring collaboration with the Cultural Preservation Center to develop academic manuscripts and secure expert testimony. Sapta Negara noted that the process goes beyond the physical object, requiring competent sources to provide in-depth historical and philosophical context.

"We continue to inventory our potential. Once the data is in, we assess which ones are viable for proposal," he said.

Buoyed by this latest success, the local administration is already preparing five more entries, including Jaje Bendu, Arja Sewagati, and the Loloan Malay language. These efforts aim to ensure Jembrana’s legacy remains woven into the fabric of Indonesian national history. ***