Indonesia Brings Cultural Diversity Closer Through Cultural Fair Day

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture held the Cultural Fair Day “Pasar Pagi Nusantara” in Jakarta on Sunday, 16 August 2026, as part of celebrations marking the country’s 81st Independence Day. The event offered the public an opportunity to experience Indonesia’s diverse cultural heritage alongside Sunday Car Free Day (CFD) activities.

Culture Minister Fadli Zon said the event was designed to make culture more accessible by presenting it as component of everyday life rather than as something formal and distant. “We hope the Pasar Pagi Nusantara Cultural Fair Day can be integrated into both sporting activities and cultural appreciation,” Fadli said.

Held under the theme “Stop for a Moment, Experience the Archipelago,” the event featured several cultural experience zones, including Nusantara Digital, Arena Main Nusantara, Sanggar Karya Betawi, Pasar Rasa Nusantara, Galeri Pusaka, Aroma Nusantara, Galeri Tempo Dulu, and Panggung Budaya. Visitors could take part in interactive activities such as technology-based traditional games, batik-making workshops, and ondel-ondel crafts.

The Sunday morning event also introduced visitors to traditional Indonesian food and herbal drinks, while showcasing cultural objects such as keris, old books, vinyl records, antiques, and traditional crafts. Fadli said the products on display had been curated, including foods recognized as part of Indonesia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Cultural Fair Day also featured performances by various cultural communities, highlighting the diversity of Indonesia’s artistic traditions. Among the performances were Congrock from Semarang, a fusion of keroncong and rock music, as well as traditional dances and a youth flash mob by Belantara Budaya Indonesia.

Fadli said the strong public response during the event demonstrated that public spaces can serve as effective platforms for bringing culture closer to communities. He therefore expressed hope that the Cultural Fair Day could become a regular event, potentially taking place once a month on Sundays.

“We hope that later the Cultural Fair Day can be held more regularly, perhaps once a month on Sundays, to also provide opportunities for MSMEs, especially those related to culture,” Fadli said. The initiative is expected to strengthen Indonesia’s cultural economy by providing cultural practitioners and small businesses with opportunities to showcase and market their products.

The Ministry of Culture said the Pasar Pagi Nusantara event, held in conjunction with the 16 August Independence Day weekend activities, is an element of its broader effort to connect cultural institutions with the public. The program also aims to introduce Indonesia’s cultural diversity through accessible and interactive experiences while providing promotional space for cultural communities and MSMEs.