UNAIR NEWS – The Master’s Program in Literature and Cultural Studies at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) reaffirmed its dedication to preserving and promoting local cultural heritage through a guest lecture titled Studies on Localities of Culture and Literature. The lecture spotlighted Bromo, a prominent cultural and natural landmark in East Java.

Held in the Chairil Anwar Room at UNAIR’s Faculty of Humanities, Dharmawangsa-B Campus, the event invited 21 students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) for an international collaboration and exchange of insights on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. Speakers included UNAIR’s Dr. Nadya Afdholy, SHum, MPd, alongside Malaysian lecturers Dr. Anna Lynn Binti Abu Bakar and Dr. Daron Benjamin Law.

Bromo’s cultural significance

Bromo is famous not only for its scenic beauty but also for its rich cultural and spiritual importance, particularly within the Tengger community. “The name Bromo originates from Brahma, one of the Hindu gods, which reflects the religious and historical roots of the predominantly Hindu Tengger people,” Dr. Afdholy explained.

In her presentation, Dr. Afdholy highlighted the Yadnya Kasada ritual, an annual ceremony performed by the Tengger people to honor the gods and maintain ecological balance. She also noted that the legend of Joko Seger and Roro Anteng illustrates the deep ties between humans, nature, and faith within the Tengger community.

“The Kasada ceremony, typically held in the 12th month of the Javanese calendar, involves offering agricultural products into the crater of Mount Bromo as a gesture of gratitude to the gods,” she added.

The collaboration provided an enriching opportunity for students to discuss efforts to preserve cultural wisdom from different regions, while also sharing local traditions with a global audience. UMS students actively engaged in discussions on the challenges and barriers to preserving local culture in Malaysia.

The guest lecture underscored the value of a multidisciplinary approach to cultural studies and encouraged students to explore the cultural diversity of Southeast Asia. With the strong academic partnership between UNAIR and Universiti Malaysia Sabah, it is hoped that both institutions will continue to strengthen their relationship, bringing mutual benefits in the future.

Author: Sintya Alfafa

Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin