Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) Lestari Moerdijat said that preserving Banyumas lengger is not only an effort to preserve cultural heritage, but also a strategic part of strengthening the character and national awareness of the next generation.
"When we talk about Banyumasan lengger, we are actually talking about how we preserve heritage, and more than that, it is an effort to nurture national consciousness," Lestari said in a statement received.
According to him, culture is the moral infrastructure of democracy. He stated that democracy cannot stand firmly without strong cultural roots.
He also reminded us that democracy is often reduced to mere political contestation, general elections, or mere matters of power.
"In fact, democracy requires a deeper foundation. Democracy requires citizens who respect each other, appreciate differences, and have a sense of their culture and nation. These are all core elements of culture," he said.
In addition, he explained that the advancement of national culture amidst world civilization is also a constitutional mandate, namely Article 31 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.
Culture, he emphasized, is not merely a complement to development, but rather the soul, breath, and an inseparable part of national development.
Lestari attended the gathering of community aspirations entitled Lengger Banyumas: Preserving Heritage, Nurturing National Awareness at the Sipanji Hall, Banyumas Regency, Purwokerto.
He appreciated the Banyumas artists and cultural figures who consistently promoted and preserved lengger, including reviving the philosophy behind this performing art.
Lestari is pushing for lengger to be nominated as a world cultural heritage, after it was designated as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2019.
"State recognition is important because it's not just an administrative record, but a sign that lengger is truly an integral part of this nation's journey," he said.
He added that the greatest challenge today is not the loss of art, but rather the loss of memory and connection between the younger generation and their own culture. By losing that connection, the nation will lose its memory.
Therefore, he called for cultural preservation to become a joint movement that is not only the responsibility of cultural communities and artists, but also involves all stakeholders and the public.
"A great nation is a nation that has strong roots and is able to keep its cultural heritage alive amidst changing times," said Lestari.
