Rontek,Traditional Art from Pacitan to Wake Residents During Ramadan
- 14 Jul 2026 00:05 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- Pacitan Regency has nominated the traditional Rontek art form for Indonesia's Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) recognition for 2026.
- Rontek originated from bamboo percussion used to wake residents for sahur during Ramadan.
RRI.CO.ID, Pacitan - Rontek is a traditional art that originated from simple bamboo beats used to wake residents for a meal and drink before dawn (sahur) during Ramadan in Pacitan Regency, East Java.
The practice later evolved into a performance art that combines strikes on bamboo kentongan, bedug drums, various percussion instruments with a distinctive, dynamic rhythm. Rontek has also incorporated choreography, theatricality, costumes and the creative interpretation of performing groups.
The art form has been maintained through various community activities from village to regency level, including the regular Pacitan Rontek Festival, which serves as a venue for artistic expression and creativity.
Acting head of the Culture Division at Pacitan Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports Agency, Adetya Wicaksana Putra, said that Rontek is not merely an entertainment show.
“It has become part of Pacitan’s community identity handed down through generations,” he said on Monday, 13 July 2026, as quoted by Antara.
Adetya said that Rontek is currently being curated for listing as Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). It was submitted at the end of 2025 and is still under central government curation.
“We proposed Rontek as an ICH nomination for 2026, we hope it will soon be designated as an official cultural identity of Pacitan,” he said.
Adetya said the submission was made after careful consideration because Rontek holds strong historical and cultural value for the people of Pacitan. The recognition is expected to strengthen preservation efforts while opening wider opportunities for Rontek’s development, so it remains relevant amid changing times.
The Pacitan Rontek Festival 2026 will be held from 17–19 July with a concept different from previous years. One innovation is the introduction of a moving stage, which will be included in the judging criteria.
That concept is expected to restore Rontek’s character as a mobile performance art that engages the public directly along the parade route. ***
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