Dolan Festival in Banyumas Revives Traditional Games to Cut Screen Time

RRI.CO.ID, Banyumas - The Dolan Festival (Game Festival) in Banyumas Regency, Central Java, featured various traditional games to commemorate Children's Day, including stilts (egrang), hopscotch (engklek), and congklak.

Administrator of the Central Java Children's Forum, Ahmad Aulia Alfaqih, said traditional games were chosen to revive children's play culture. The activity was a collaboration with the Banyumas Regency Administration and the Central Java Provincial Administration.

Ahmad explained that traditional games can serve as alternative activities for children besides playing with gadgets. Children can also learn cooperation and build togetherness through group play. "The hope is that children won't just play at home or with gadgets," said Ahmad in Cindaga Village, Banyumas Regency on Friday, September 18, 2026.

According to him, children also need to socialize and learn traditional games together with their peers.

Fairuz Alya Santoro, a volunteer from the Banyumas Children's Forum, said traditional games are a cultural heritage that needs to be preserved. "So that traditional games are preserved, not forgotten or lost in the globalization era," said Fairuz.

She added that traditional games can also reduce children's gadget usage time and help children learn to socialize with their friends. Additionally, these games can train children's thinking abilities and physical activity.

Meanwhile, Cindaga Village Head, Sukirah, welcomed the Doland Festival's implementation in her area positively. According to her, the event provides new experiences for children in Cindaga Village.

Sukirah said traditional games can foster cooperation and mutual respect among children. She assessed the activity as one way to reduce children's dependence on gadgets. "Most importantly, it fosters a sense of cooperation and mutual respect among children," said Sukirah.

The village administration also plans to continue similar activities with Integrated Healthcare Center (Posyandu) and Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK) cadres. Sukirah hopes traditional games can continue to be introduced to children in the surrounding environment.

One participant, Putri, admitted being interested in trying various available games. "I want to play everything because it's fun," she said.

Putri said that currently she rarely plays traditional games. During holidays, she more often plays with mobile phones.

A mentor from Aisyiyah 2 Cindaga Kindergarten, Jaena, said the event helps children better recognize traditional games that are being abandoned. According to her, traditional games are also related to cultural introduction and children's interaction with friends. "It's about cooperation, caring for friends, and the importance of them interacting with each other," she said. (Annaila Azzahra-EN)