YOGYAKARTA- The peak of the series of celebrations for the 65th anniversary of Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM is today (3/3) marked by scientific oration by P.M. Laksono at the Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri Cultural Center, as well as cultural and culinary international festival on campus. At least 18 booths are present there, offering snacks and drinks made by Indonesian and foreign students of the Faculty.
Event coordinator Abdul Jawat Nur, S.S., M.Hum. said that this event was real evidence of UGM in Yogyakarta as a world miniature that advocates pluralism.
"This is obviously to introduce Yogyakarta, particularly UGM, as a world miniature with its pluralistic characteristics," Jawat said.
Participants are from Western Asia Literature, Nusantara Literature, Anthropology, Roman Literature, Indonesian Literature, English Literature, Tourism, History, Japanese Literature, INCULS and Relief CRCS. The foods offered are bukhori, samosa, Arabian coffee, Spanish food, pancake, Takoyaki, French and Chinese foods. Also presented are Arabian songs, Saman and Indang dances, poetry reading and musicalisation, accoustics, and Gladiator Gunung performance presenting Wargo Budoyo Merbabu group.
"Last year we presented Ndolalak. This activity will be held regularly each year," said the lecturer of Western Asia department. The Gladiator Gunung or Topeng Ireng dance is the performance that attracted biggest audience. The show at the R.M. Margono Djojohadikusumo yard is a collaboration of three forms of arts in the slopes of Mt. Merbabu, particularly Pakis sub-district, Magelang regency. Those are Soreng, Warok Bocah, and Gupolo Gunung. The term of gladiator is taken from the Latin word which means 'sword bearer' or 'the fighting man', for this art collaboration it means soldiers in war exercise.
Soreng is the soldiers of Javanese figure Aryo Penangsang in war exercise while waroks are children in similar exercise. Gupolo Gunung is a symbol of Merbabu mountain keepers who are gathering to protect the mountain from dangers. The three performing arts are merged into one against the backsound of pounding music, dancers wearing colourful costumes and making dynamic movements, making it quite an entertainment.