Mass Batik-Making Event Marks National Batik Day in Yogyakarta

RRI.CO.ID, Yogyakarta – Efforts to preserve batik as an Indonesian cultural heritage continue through the involvement of the younger generation.

One such initiative is the "Symphony of 1,001 Batik Artisans 2026" event on Malioboro Street in Yogyakarta, where members of the public gathered to create batik together to commemorate National Batik Day.

Head of the Agency for Industrial Standardization and Services Policy at the Ministry of Industry, Emi Suryandari, said the strong participation of young people in the event reflected their growing sense of ownership of traditional Indonesian batik.

"I see so many young people around us today. This shows that they already have a sense of ownership toward batik," Emi said at the opening of the "1,001 Batik Artisans" event in Yogyakarta on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.

She said the younger generation's involvement is essential to ensuring batik's sustainability as cultural heritage and urged young people to embrace authentic Indonesian batik. "I truly want the young people around this stage to love authentic Indonesian batik. If they don't, there will be no one left to preserve this culture," she said.

She also encouraged young people and the wider public to view batik not merely as a legacy of the past, but as a living heritage that continues to evolve and innovate.

Noviar Rahmat, an expert staff member to the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) for Economic and Development Affairs, said the mass batik-making activity stretched 550 meters, from the Terang Bulan intersection to the March 1 General Offensive Monument.

According to Noviar, the event was deliberately held in the Malioboro area to demonstrate to both the public and international visitors that Yogyakarta remains a World Batik City.

Chairperson of the "Symphony of 1,001 Batik Artisans 2026" committee, Indah Rahayu Murnihati, said the figure 1,001 was selected as an initial target to engage more people and encourage greater appreciation of batik as a cultural heritage.

"I was overwhelmed. People called every day, and even last night there were still people wanting to join," she said.

She explained that participants created batik together using the theme of Yogyakarta's Philosophical Axis, featuring motifs depicting Mount Merapi, the Tugu Monument, the Keraton, the Plengkung gates, Panggung Krapyak, and the South Sea.

Deputy Chairman of the Yogyakarta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin DIY), Gunarta Adibrata, said the collaborative event, held in the city's economic center, could grow into an annual tradition.

"Kadin hopes that activities like this will develop into an annual cultural and tourism event in the Special Region of Yogyakarta," he said.

One participant, Nugraheni, said creating batik in a public space was both exciting and challenging. She also highlighted the difficulties traditional batik faces amid growing competition from printed batik products.

According to her, traditional batik deserves continued support because each motif follows established traditions and carries its own story. With Indonesian batik already recognized globally, she encouraged young people to embrace and wear Indonesian batik. ***