Jakarta, IO – As an annual event, the 2023 Wayang Jogja Night Carnival (WJNC) performed for its eighth year as the final series of events commemorating, this year Jogja’s 267th anniversary. WJNC is a street night carnival that combines wayang (puppet characters) and street art performances involving eccentric choreography, contemporary music, and blended modern-traditional fashion.
Every year, the WJNC always been a successful event, which Jogja’s residents and visitors have been waiting for. The WJNC is also included in the 110 Kharisma Nusantara Events (KEN), organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy for the third time around. The 8th WJNC took place in Tugu, Yogyakarta, on October 7, 2023.
This year’s carnival started from two starting points: Pangeran Diponegoro and Jenderal Sudirman Streets, with two carnival display locations in the area of Tugu Jogja and Margo Utomo Street.
The current WJNC #8 is different from the previous years, as this year’s WJNC Fest was a series of pre-WJNC #8 events aiming to create the WJNC ambiance prior to the actual WJNC event. The WJNC series of events is expected to increase and extend tourists’ occupancy levels in Yogyakarta. The WJNC Fest consisted of Kampung Wayang, Citraleka, Rembug Pakeliran, Gandamana, Ngambah Jumantara, Gelung Minangkara, Saiyeg Saeka Kapti and Jagaddhita.
The theme of this year’s WJNC #8 was based on “Pandawa Mahabhiseka,” a local tale based on the Mahabharata epic created back in the era of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X. Pandawa Mahabhiseka tells the story of Queen Sukmengkoro of the Parangwiduri Kingdom, who ordered Patih Surawati to ask her Guru, Sang Hyang Bathara, to bless her with the power to rule over all the kings in the universe, which was not approved by Bathara Guru. A war broke out between the gods, Surawati, and the Raseksi soldiers.
Read: Syahrul Yasin Limpo Formally Detained By KPK
There were at least 14 kemantren (districts) in Yogyakarta that participated in the WJNC carnival, with each district presenting its own wayang character. The wayang represented the characters of Bathara Guru and the Angels, Queen Sumengkoro and the Giant Princess Soldiers, Resi Garuda Pancaretno and Cantrik, Kresna and the Pandavas, Garuda Malihan, Punokawan, Klanthang Kenya and the Giant Princesses, Srikandi and Bathari Uma, Duryudono and Surowati, Wasiat Flute, Kurawa, Larasati, Pandava Wife, and the Gods.
The 2023 WJNC #8 and WJNC Fest invited people to celebrate life following the pandemic and to remain grateful despite any hardships. The officials and the government of DIY also expected the event would stimulate the tourism sector and increase MSME product sales, which can result in significant economic growth for the local people and communities. (IO/Dessy Aipipidely)