Yogyakarta, 16 December 2025 – Students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Class of 2025, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, staged a drama titled Weton Waton. The performance took place at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium, FIB UGM, at 6:00 p.m.

This activity was organized as part of the final exam assignment for the Communicative Spoken Javanese Language course taught by Dr. R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A. The performance of Weton Waton was directed by Safa Rahmatul H. as the production manager.

The drama Weton Waton tells the story of a domestic conflict between a husband and wife triggered by financial problems. The root of the problem lies in the husband’s decision to quit his job and get involved in cockfighting gambling. The ongoing conflict then prompts the wife’s parents to take the matter to a shaman. In the story, the shaman says that the couple’s domestic quarrels are caused by an incompatibility in their weton, which is called tiba pegat.

Through this performance, students sought to convey the message that problems should not be automatically attributed to a person’s character or nature based on their weton. In addition, this performance also presented knowledge about the concepts of dina, pasaran, and wuku, which are still believed by some Javanese people to be part of their tradition.

Based on an online interview with Yogi Setiyawan on December 28, 2025, the Weton Waton performance was a final exam assignment that required all students enrolled in the course to be directly involved in the performance. The theme of weton was chosen as an effort to highlight the tradition of calculating weton, dina, pasaran, and wuku that has developed in Javanese society.

“In preparing for the Weton Waton performance, our preparations can be said to still have a number of limitations. The challenges faced include script writing, group division, and funding constraints. From this process, we learned that good and open communication between members is very important in a performance,” said Yogi.

Yogi also expressed his pride in being involved in the premiere performance of the 2025 batch of students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. He hopes that this activity can be a first step towards producing better works in the future.

The performance of the Weton Waton drama was not only a means of practicing Javanese language skills orally, but also a platform for students to create and apply their language skills in the form of a performance. In line with the teachings of KGPAA Mangkunegara IV in Serat Wedhatama, which states that ngelmu iku kalakone kanthi laku or knowledge must be implemented through practice, this performance is a tangible manifestation of reviving enthusiasm for the Javanese language while honing students’ creativity. Through activities such as this, students are expected to continue to preserve and revive Javanese culture through concrete efforts that benefit the community.

Author : Haryo Untoro
Editor  : Haryo Untoro

Yogyakarta, January, 23, 2026 – Yogyakarta is widely recognized as one of the cities with a strong literacy ecosystem in Indonesia. The presence of bookstores spread across various parts of the city plays an important role in supporting public reading and learning activities. In recent years, bookstores in Yogyakarta have developed new concepts by incorporating coffee spaces and aesthetically designed interiors.

This concept has transformed bookstores from merely places for book distribution into alternative literacy spaces that are open to students and the general public. A number of bookstores that frequently attract attention on social media include Buku Akik, Solusi Buku, Ruang Literasi Yogyakarta, Buku Natan, Namu Buku, and Shira Media, among others. These bookstores offer reading areas, discussion spaces, and various literacy-related activities that are widely accessible.

The emergence of bookstores with creative concepts has further strengthened the culture of literacy in Yogyakarta. These spaces are used for reading, discussions, and the organization of literacy-based activities involving communities and students. With a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere, bookstores serve as non-formal learning spaces beyond the campus environment.

The growing phenomenon of aesthetic bookstores in Yogyakarta aligns with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 on Quality Education, through the expansion of access to reading materials and inclusive learning spaces. In addition, the use of bookstores as creative public spaces supports SDG Goal 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities by providing safe, welcoming, and sustainable cultural spaces in urban areas.

Through the presence of bookstores with diverse concepts, Yogyakarta continues to strengthen its role as a city of literacy that is adaptive to the times and responsive to the needs of the younger generation.

[FIB UGM Public Relations, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, 14 December 2025 – To commemorate the 76th Anniversary of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), a Wayang Kulit Purwa madya ratri (midnight) performance featuring the play “Rajamala Ruwat” was held as part of the Nitilaku 2025 series of events. The performance took place on Sunday (14/12) starting at 6:00 p.m. until completion at the Joglo of the Innovation and Creativity Center, and was open to the public.

In the performance, Ki M. Rafi Nur Fauzi, a student of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM from the Department of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture, appeared as one of the dalang (puppeteers). Ki Rafi’s participation reflects the active role of the younger generation, particularly FIB UGM students, in preserving and revitalizing the traditional art of wayang kulit.

The performance of “Rajamala Ruwat” was collaboratively presented by six dalang from various elements of the UGM academic community and the Universitas Gadjah Mada Alumni Association (KAGAMA), namely Ki M. Rafi Nur Fauzi (FIB student), Ki Gymna Cahyo Nugroho (Vocational School student), Ki Faizal Noor Singgih (KAGAMA, Faculty of Agricultural Technology), Ki Gilang Thomas Kumoro (KAGAMA, Faculty of Geography), Ki Jack Haryanto (Educational Staff, UGM University Secretariat), and Ki Prof. Drg. Suryono (Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry). The performance was accompanied by the Karawitan ensemble of the Student Arts Family.

The involvement of Ki M. Rafi Nur Fauzi in this cultural performance aligns with UGM’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 on Quality Education through the strengthening of culture-based and experiential learning. In addition, the activity supports Goal 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities by safeguarding the sustainability of intangible cultural heritage, as well as Goal 17 on Partnerships for the Goals through cross-faculty collaboration among students, alumni, and members of the academic community on a shared cultural stage.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, 5 December 2025 – Ten graduate students of the Master of Literature Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences held a Philology Clinic Exhibition themed “Tracing Cosmology in Ancient Manuscripts.” This exhibition is part of an academic activity guided by lecturers of the Philology Program: Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum., Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., and Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, S.S., M.Hum.

Cosmology, as a way for humans to understand the origins, structure, and order of the universe, has long served as a fundamental aspect of cultural development. Long before the emergence of modern science, the peoples of the Nusantara had developed their own cosmological perspectives and recorded them in various Arabic, Javanese, and Malay manuscripts. This knowledge was passed down across generations as an integral part of the region’s intellectual tradition.

Through the Philology Clinic activities, the students aim to create a space for disseminating and reintroducing cosmological insights found in ancient manuscripts. These manuscripts not only contain stories or moral teachings, but also reflect the worldview, knowledge structures, and belief systems of communities in the past.

In today’s modern world—where rational knowledge is often separated from spiritual experience—this exhibition invites the public to revisit how past societies understood the universe holistically, combining empirical, symbolic, and practical experiences in everyday life. As such, the exhibition serves as a bridge between the past and the present, opening new avenues for appreciating the intellectual heritage of the Nusantara.

This exhibition aligns with the commitment to sustainable education as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education. Through manuscript preservation, the strengthening of cultural literacy, and the advancement of humanities research, this activity supports the creation of inclusive, high-quality education and promotes lifelong learning. Additionally, this initiative reflects ongoing efforts to safeguard cultural heritage, in line with SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities, which emphasizes cultural preservation as a key component of sustainable community development.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, December, 9, 2025 – Paksi Raras Alit, widely known as Mas Paksi, has been awarded the 2025 UGM Outstanding Alumni Award for his significant contributions to cultural literacy development and the preservation of traditional arts. An alumnus of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM, Mas Paksi is recognized as the founder of the JAWACANA Community, a cultural education platform that continues to expand access to cultural learning for the wider public.

Since its establishment, JAWACANA has consistently offered various programs such as cultural magazines, Javanese language classes, and inclusive, accessible art performances. These initiatives directly contribute to improving cultural education quality in society, aligning with UGM’s commitment to supporting sustainable development.

Mas Paksi’s contributions also reflect strong support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly through expanding access to cultural education (SDG 4: Quality Education), strengthening local identity and community sustainability through the preservation of regional arts and languages (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities), and fostering collaboration among communities, academics, and cultural practitioners across various JAWACANA programs (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals).

This award further reinforces Mas Paksi’s role as a representative of FIB UGM alumni who brings tangible positive impact to society. Through JAWACANA, he demonstrates that cultural preservation can become an educational, sustainable movement that contributes significantly to strengthening local culture amid ongoing societal changes.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]