2025 Merapi Slopes Cultural Festival, Thousands of Residents Fill Hargobinangun

The vast field of Gelora Hargobinangun, at the foot of Mount Merapi, transformed into a sea of people on Saturday morning, November 22, 2025. Thousands of residents from all corners of Sleman poured in to celebrate the 2025 Merapi Slopes Cultural Festival, an annual celebration increasingly resembling a "mega cultural celebration" belonging to the community living on the slopes of Indonesia's most active volcano.

This event was held to commemorate the 79th Anniversary (Adeging) of Hargobinangun Village, while also serving as a grand stage to affirm the cultural identity of the community living alongside Merapi.

The event was also attended by various regional figures, including Sleman Deputy Regent Danang Maharsa, Sleman DPRD Deputy Chair Ani Martanti, and several stakeholders who also provided support.

A Thousand Dancers and a Living Cultural Stage

One of this year's festival icons was the performance of a thousand dancers involving residents ranging from children and teenagers to village elders. They presented choreography blending Javanese traditional elements with the unique energy of Merapi's youth, making the stage atmosphere vibrant and colorful.

Hargobinangun Village Head, Amin Sarjito, stated that the festival's goal was not only to celebrate the village's age but also to ensure the local culture remains alive and passed on to the next generation.

"This event carries the theme 'Manunggalung Cipta, Rasa, lan Karya' (Unity of Creation, Feeling, and Work)," he said.

This theme reflects the philosophy of the Merapi slopes community, who believe in harmony between creativity, gratitude, and the will to keep creating despite living in a disaster-prone area. Historical records show that Hargobinangun is one of the areas close to the Merapi eruption danger zone, yet its residents' spirit remains steadfast.

Euphoria of a Thousand Dishes and Cultural Processions

The festival wasn't just about dance. The committee prepared a thousand portions of free 'nasi kucing' (small rice portions), a thousand 'tumpeng' (ceremonial cone-shaped rice), and a thousand 'jadah tempe' (sticky rice cake with tempeh) – Sleman specialties deeply connected to the legend of Roro Jonggrang and Mataraman traditions.

There was also a procession releasing a thousand turtle doves, symbolizing prayers for safety, peace, and new hope for the Merapi slopes residents. The turtle dove has long been recognized as a bird of high spiritual and cultural value in Javanese society.

Sleman Deputy Regent Danang Maharsa even joined the crowd on the field and danced with the residents. His presence wasn't merely formal; it truly became a moment of togetherness.

Danang expressed great appreciation to all residents and village officials involved in organizing the festival.

"This is a manifestation of the solidarity, harmony, and spirit of mutual cooperation among the community, the village head, and all officials of Hargobinangun Village," he said.

He also emphasized that this festival strengthens efforts to preserve the culture and local wisdom that form the identity of the Merapi community.

"This is also a form of gratitude to God for the blessings bestowed upon the slopes of Merapi," he added.

A Festival that Bonds the Merapi Slopes Community

The Merapi Slopes Cultural Festival is not merely an annual ceremonial agenda; it is a crucial moment to nurture cultural heritage while strengthening the solidarity of residents living alongside nature. With thousands enlivening the event, the festival once again proves that culture is not just a symbol, but the very breath of life for the Merapi community.

Amidst modernization and the swift currents of digital entertainment, festivals like this become a "homecoming space" for residents – a place to remember who they are, where they come from, and what culture they must safeguard together.