He said the Indonesiana Fund, a permanent cultural fund, enables communities to hold cultural activities such as the festival.
"If planned from the beginning of the year, we could create a bigger and more festive festival, also supported by sponsors, CSR, and various other parties," Zon said in a statement on Monday.
The festival, themed "Traditional Pencak Silat: Weaving the Archipelago's Culture in the Spirit of Unity in Diversity," was held in Jakarta on November 15-16. It was initiated by the Greater Indonesia Traditional Silat Artists (PETIRA) and attended by hundreds of participants from 48 silat schools and studios across Greater Jakarta and Banten.
Organizers said the festival served as a cultural meeting point, linking various silat lineages and strengthening ties among practitioners.
Zon stressed that promoting culture is a constitutional duty, citing Indonesia’s 2017 Cultural Advancement Law, the 2005 National Sports System Law, and a 2021 regulation on safeguarding national culture as key legal foundations.
"Let us preserve our traditions, keep pencak silat visible on the world stage, and innovate without losing our roots," he said.
The festival brought together traditional fighters, artists, and local communities, reinforcing social bonds through Indonesia's rich cultural diversity.
Organizers said the gathering also inspired young people to embrace national heritage while promoting harmony among regions.
They emphasized the festival's role in protecting pencak silat as an intangible cultural asset, sharpening practitioners' skills in movement, expression, and rhythm, and strengthening interregional solidarity.
Participants said the event helped cultivate pride in local traditions while supporting the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika — the national motto of unity in diversity.
Festival leaders added that nurturing young talent will be essential to ensure pencak silat continues to evolve. They hope the annual event will encourage greater youth involvement and sustain the art form for future generations.
Indonesian pencak silat was inscribed as an intangible world heritage during the 14th UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee session in Bogotá, Colombia, on December 12, 2019.
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Translator: Chairul R, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Anton Santoso
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