Indonesia
A Whole Village Doing Batik
In Kampoeng Batik Palbatu, Menteng Dalam, Tebet, South Jakarta, batik is more than what people wear. This proud pattern of Indonesia also bright up the wall on RW IV street and road along I, II, IV and V Palbatu street. Cool!
Kampoeng Batik Palbatu has been known as the home of batik lovers. The name Kampoeng Batik Palbatu has been around since 2001. Many kind of fabric and clothes with batik pattern are available in some local store, especially Batik Jakarta. People hold some catching activities to celebrate the annual Batik day on October 2nd.
This year, the annual event’s title is Ngebatik Sekampung was held for five days, October 2-6, 2013. It covered batik lesson and inspiring talk show about History of Batavian Batik and Batik Certification. But the most attractive event, the one involving most of citizens are Ngebatik on the Road and Ngebatik on the Wall. The event strikes everyday at 03.00-05.00 PM and 08.00-10.00 AM in the weekend.
“We can easily get over 100 participants. They came from Palbatu and nearby areas, from children to grown ups,“ Karim Amin, a local who was one of the initator event explained. On the closing day of Ngebatik Sekampung, Sunday (October 6) morning, Students of Sekolah Alternative Anak Jalanan (Saaja) didn’t want to be left behind. Their presence was escorted by Agus Supriyanto, the principal himself. The students were so excited to join the batik with the rest of the community. “I want them to be more familiar with the rich of our beloved culture,“ said Agus explaining his reason of taking his students.
According to the initiator of Ngebatik Sekampung, Budi Darmawan (Iwan), this positive activity is an effort to love batik movement for the whole villagers of Kampoeng Batik Palbatu. Batik education is not just to know what and how the pattern is made, but also to be involved in the process. This effort has been around for quite some times and then we can already see the result.
In 2011, the Indonesian World Record Museum (Muri) awarded Kampoeng Batik Palbatu for their longest road covered with batik pattern. The road was 133.9 meters and the batik was painted by villagers altogether. Another Muri record was awarded in 2012, still for the batik. Muri recorded Kampoeng Batik Palbatu as the area with most batik pattern on the houses. They were 100 house. “This year, the streets and walls in Kampoeng Palbatu are the target. Easy to guess, it aims for another Muri. However, we will hold the next year event at Monas,“ Iwan explained.
RAHADIAN WIJAYA
PHOTOS: RAHADIAN WIJAYA
