BOGOR, WEST JAVA – Held at the Auditorium of Masjid Zona Madina in Bogor, the Cultural Division of Dompet Dhuafa once again organized the National Kampung Silat Jampang (KSJ) Festival in 2023. The event, with hundreds of participants from 20 Silat associations, took place over two days, on Saturday and Sunday (21—22/10/2023).
The KSJ Festival, which caters to participants from elementary to high school age groups, is an annual event aimed at honing, preserving, and developing the culture of Nusantara, with a particular focus on the intangible heritage of Silat, for future generations.
Baca juga: Srikandi STIM Budi Bakti Sabet Juara dalam Kompetisi Pencak Silat Tingkat Nasional
The event attracted community leaders and cultural activists, including KH Ahmad Shonhaji, Director of Social Services and Cultural Dakwah at Dompet Dhuafa; Deni Humaedi AS, S. IP, MM, Head of the Bogor Regency Culture & Tourism Office; Herman Budianto, GM of Dakwah, Culture, and Environment at Dompet Dhuafa, and also the General Chairman of KSJ; along with other distinguished cultural activists and grandmasters.
In his speech, Deni Humaedi AS expressed his appreciation for the KSJ Festival and his readiness for collaboration in the development of Silat culture.
“We are immensely proud of KSJ’s role in advancing Silat culture, and we are prepared, God willing, to collaborate further in its development,” stated Deni.
Echoing Dompet Dhuafa’s commitment, KH Ahmad Shonhaji remarked, “Through KSJ, Dompet Dhuafa is dedicated to preserving and developing Silat, aiming to nurture martial artists who are devout, ethical, accomplished, and beneficial.”
Herman Budianto highlighted the educational value of Pencak Silat, “Pencak Silat is a superb method for children’s education, integrating motoric, sensoric, and spiritual dimensions. It fosters the development of children into strong, courteous, and sportively successful individuals, countering the negative impact of gadget dependency on their character and physical strength.”
The festival is planned to be a regular event with enhanced execution, given Silat’s global recognition as a cultural heritage of the Nusantara. Through Kampung Silat Jampang, Dompet Dhuafa encourages all cultural enthusiasts, particularly Silat practitioners, to actively participate in preserving the Nusantara culture. (Dompet Dhuafa/AG/Dhika Prabowo)