Tree-planting ritual opens Indonesia's Lima Gunung Festival

Magelang (ANTARA) - A tree-planting ritual called Nandur Eling (Planting the Memory) opened the 25th Lima Gunung Festival 2026 in Magelang, Central Java, on Friday, launching a three-day celebration of village culture, arts and environmental stewardship.

Five community leaders -- local elder Darto, 76, hamlet head Budiono, village secretary Solichin, Lima Gunung Community chairman Sujono and cultural figure Sutanto Mendut -- led the opening ceremony.

The five participants planted five tree saplings -- Krengsek, pule, Jamaican cherry, guava and durian -- at the festival grounds on village-owned land.

The independently organized annual festival was founded by farmer-artists of the Lima Gunung Community, established in 1997 by cultural figure Sutanto Mendut.

The community takes its name from five mountainous areas surrounding Magelang: Mount Merapi, Mount Merbabu, Mount Andong, Mount Sumbing and the Menoreh hills.

This year's festival runs from July 10 to 12. Warangan Hamlet, host of the inaugural 2002 event, is again serving as the venue.

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A total of 85 performing groups with 1,274 artists will appear under the theme "Makin Goblok Bareng," encouraging humility while building a better life in harmony with nature.

The Nandur Eling procession began with a parade led by Lima Gunung Community chairman Sujono from the village road to the festival grounds, where the trees were planted.

The procession passed an exhibition curated by local artist Gentur, accompanied by the sounds of truntung and bende, traditional percussion instruments.

Senior community figure Haris Kertorahardjo, also known as Lie Thian Hauw, opened an exhibition featuring 15 paintings, photographs and historical documents from previous festivals and archival images of Magelang.

Warangan Hamlet Head Budiono said the tree-planting symbolized gratitude for life, community ties and the natural environment bestowed by the Creator.

"We are grateful for our shared life, for nature and for the Creator. We hope the Lima Gunung Community will continue to grow through artistic and cultural activities," he said.

Sujono said the ritual reminds community members to preserve village cultural heritage, protect local wisdom and pass positive values to future generations.

"It is about planting memories to sustain the cultural values of village and mountain communities," he said.

According to Sujono, those values include mutual cooperation, kinship, courtesy, compassion, harmony with nature, respect for ancestors and devotion to God.

He said technological advances should be embraced wisely to improve lives while preserving the noble values inherited from earlier generations.

"Many good values have already been planted, therefore they must be preserved and nurtured sincerely," he said.

The festival features traditional, modern, contemporary and collaborative performances, including dance, music, poetry, exhibitions, cultural parades, lectures, discussion forums and the Lima Gunung Award.

Performers include farmer-artist groups from the Lima Gunung Community and arts groups from villages near Warangan and several Indonesian cities.

Residents decorated the village and festival stage with natural materials including rice straw, dried coconut fronds, dried chili branches, corn cobs and bamboo.

Sutanto said the festival reflects the self-reliance and resilience of farming communities in Magelang's mountainous region.

He said the communities continue preserving village traditions while adapting to modern life, including maintaining village calendars, prayer rituals, customary processions and traditional arts.

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Translator: Bayu Prasetyo

Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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