Sidoarjo, The Indonesia Herald - Sidoarjo Regency is increasingly rich in cultural arts icons. The art of Gagrak Porongan shadow puppet has become a typical Sidoarjo shadow puppet.
The Sidoarjo district government is aggressively promoting it with the Porongan Gagrak Wayang Puppeteers Association. In various villages, 12 performances were held for the community.
The Gagrak Porongan shadow puppet show was held in Candinegoro Village, Wonoayu Subdistrict, on Saturday night (15/6/2024). Puppeteer Ki Rochmat Hadi played the play Wahyu Ketenteraman. Ki Rochmat was able to entertain the community.
One of them, Plt. Regent of Sidoarjo H. Subandi who attended with residents and art activists in the all-night puppet show. He was amazed by the art of shadow puppetry which has become the culture of the archipelago.
Many local wisdom values are contained in it. People can love shadow puppetry more because it is the nation's own culture.
"Shadow puppet art is rich in local wisdom values. It fits the character of our nation. For that, we should preserve it so that it will not be eroded by the times," he said.
Subandi further added that the Gagrak Porongan shadow puppet show could increase the love for cultural arts in Sidoarjo. The younger generation also needs to understand that culture is the identity of the nation.
Subandi is ready to encourage villages and communities in Sidoarjo to preserve shadow puppet culture like this. The original Sidoarjo shadow puppet show can be performed when the community holds a celebration.
This kind of cultural art performance can be further enlivened. The original culture of the archipelago will never disappear in the midst of globalization.
He continued, even the culture of the archipelago will be of higher value. Including, Porongan Gagrak puppets in Sidoarjo. "That way one of the original cultures of Sidoarjo can be preserved," he said. (git/en/kominfo)