CCN, Cilegon, Indonesia — A significant milestone for cultural development in the City of Cilegon took place on the evening of Friday, June 27, 2025, as the Chairman and Board Members of the Cilegon City Cultural Council (DKKC) were officially inaugurated in a solemn and meaningful cultural ceremony.
Held at the Cilegon City Square, the event was part of the Muharram Culture Fest 2025 and opened with a series of spiritual rituals and a torch parade that drew wide public attention. The inauguration, titled “Abiseka Caraka Budaya”, transcended a mere administrative event and was presented as a sacred cultural rite infused with local wisdom and spiritual values.
The ceremony began with the recitation of the traditional Mace Syech chant and Surah Al-Mulk, followed by a symbolic torch procession escorting the DKKC board members to the main stage. The inauguration included the oath-taking by board members, the ceremonial handover of a cultural heirloom from the Mayor of Cilegon to the newly appointed Chairman, and the official endorsement of the council’s structure.
Composed of artists, cultural figures, academics, and youth representatives, the new board is expected to drive Cilegon’s cultural movement to become more progressive, inclusive, and responsive to the times.
In an interview session, Ayatullah Khumaeni, the newly inaugurated Chairman of DKKC, expressed his vision to make DKKC a shared cultural space for all.
“We are ready to collaborate with various stakeholders to preserve our cultural heritage while encouraging artistic innovation grounded in local values,” he stated.
Mayor of Cilegon, Robinsar, conveyed strong support for the council, expressing hope that the DKKC will serve as a strategic partner in developing and implementing the city’s cultural policies.
“We believe DKKC will play a crucial role in cultivating a sustainable and rooted cultural ecosystem,” he said.
The ceremony concluded with charitable donations to orphans and a traditional hadroh performance, further enriching the event with religious and cultural depth.
Coordinator of Muharram Culture Fest 2025, Rizal Arif Baihaqi, explained that this year’s theme, “Ruwat Jagad Muharram”, invites the public to realign spiritual life with the richness of local traditions.
“‘Ruwat’ means to cleanse, restore, and care for a disrupted order of life, while ‘Jagad’ refers to the universe—both the inner world of the self and the broader realms of society, culture, and nature,” he explained.
He emphasized that Muharram, regarded as a sacred month in both Islamic and local tradition, was purposefully chosen as the ideal time to begin anew with clear intentions.
“In this context, culture and spirituality do not stand apart—they support each other as transformative forces. Through this Muharram moment, we hope to ignite a sincere and grounded cultural revival in Cilegon,” he added.
The event was also attended by key public figures, including Chairman of the Cilegon City Parliament Rizki Khairul Ichwan, Deputy Mayor Fajar Hadi Prabowo, Chairman of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) Cilegon Abdul Rojak along with Secretary General Fatur R. Sadeli, cultural elders such as Edison Sitorus, Husen Saidan, KH Muktillah, Ayatullah Marsai, Deden Sunandar, Ustadz Sunardi, and Abah Jamhari Sakti.
Also present were Lita Rahmiati, Head of the Cultural Preservation Office Region VIII, representing the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, as well as Gunawan Rusminto, Head of the Bureau of Government and Regional Autonomy of Banten Province, and leaders from religious, cultural, and artistic organizations across Cilegon.
With this inauguration, the DKKC is poised to become a beacon of cultural vitality, guiding the people of Cilegon in honoring their roots while embracing the future. (***)
