Dieng Culture Festival Showcases Sacred Dreadlocks Ritual
- 31 Agt 2026 11:03 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- The 16th Dieng Culture Festival featured a sacred ruwatan ritual for 13 dreadlocked children (anak bajang) at the Arjuna Temple complex in Banjarnegara.
- The annual ceremony preserves Dieng's cultural heritage while bringing together local communities, officials, cultural figures, and domestic and international tourists.
RRI.CO.ID, Banjarnegara - Thirteen dreadlocked children (anak bajang) underwent the sacred ruwatan (hair-shaving ritual) at the Arjuna Temple complex in Dieng Kulon Village, Banjarnegara Regency, Central Java, on Saturday, August 29, 2026, during the annual Dieng Culture Festival (DCF XVI).
Organized by the Dieng Pandawa Tourism Awareness Group, the 2026 ritual selected 13 children out of 40 applicants following a strict curation process based on the committee's capacity to fulfill the unique personal requests made by each child, a fundamental requirement in Dieng tradition to ensure the dreadlocks do not regrow.
Led by Dieng customary elder Mbah Sumanto and Banjarnegara Regent Amalia Desiana, the ceremony involved a cultural procession from elders' residences, a jamasan (water purification) ritual, individual hair-shaving, and the final pelarungan (releasing) of the shorn locks into Balikambang Lake. The event concluded with Ngalap Berkah, a communal feast bringing together government officials, local residents, cultural actors, and domestic and international tourists.
Local administration leaders, cultural stewards, and community organizers emphasized that preserving the ruwatan tradition safeguards indigenous identity, promotes intergenerational heritage, and drives cultural tourism in Central Java. DCF XVI Coordinator Alif Faozi explained the selection process and cultural significance of fulfilling each child's request.
"Of the 40 dreadlocked children registered by their parents, 13 were curated for this year's main DCF ritual based on the committee's ability to satisfy their specific requests, ranging from livestock and electronic bicycles to specific colors of clothing, In Dieng belief, a child's request must be completely satisfied before shaving, as the dreadlocks, believed to be a blessing from Kyai Kaladete and Nini Ronce, are shaved only to cast off misfortune (sukerta) and bring safety to the community," Alif said in Banjarnegara on Saturday, August 29, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
Cultural master of ceremonies Chaerudin highlighted the social cohesion fostered by the annual cultural gathering. "The Ngalap Berkah communal feast at the conclusion of the ritual creates an inclusive space where social boundaries vanish, regional officials, indigenous elders, local villagers, and global visitors sit together as one, proving that this centuries-old tradition remains vibrant not just as a festival attraction, but as a living expression of shared heritage," Chaerudin added.
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