VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Since July, the government of the Special Region of Yogyakarta has revived the tradition of Tuesday Wagen in the Malioboro area after two years of vacuum due to Covid-19 pandemic. Tuesday Wagen has been held since 2017. The tradition, which is held every 35-day market day, is considered a holiday for traders and shops in Malioboro by conducting various activities, such as working together to clean the area, and to perform arts along Malioboro street from afternoon until night. Besides, according to the Secretary of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Kadarmanta Baskara Aji, the Tuesday Wagen is a part of preserving tradition as well as an arena for the development of cultural arts, which has provided lots of benefits.

The Tuesday Wagen was held on July 12, 2022 and it will be adjusted to the Javanese calendar with a calculation of 35 days. The difference is that Tuesday Wagen’s activities are no longer the same as before the Covid-19 pandemic. In the past, in one day there could be ten stage points along Malioboro to exhibit various artistic attractions. Now, holding Tuesday Wagen with the priority of health protocols is only at one point. This is to prevent Covid-19 cases from rising. This activity is centered in the March 1 Oemoem Serangan Monument area which is around the Kilometer Zero Point area - Fort Vredeburg Museum.

Many traditional and contemporary art-culture performances entertain tourists who pass by in the shopping center area in Yogyakarta from 15.30 WIB local time until the evening. Because it is also a testing ground for Malioboro semi-pedestrians, and motorcycle access along the area is temporarily closed from 18.00 to 21.00 WIB. Head of the DIY Culture Office, Dian Lakshmi Pratiwi, explained that various activities presented to visitors during the "Tuesday Wagen" activity in Malioboro are art performances. In addition, there are eco-printing batik workshops, Javanese script workshops, and traditional fashion carnivals. For "Tuesday Wagen" activities in the following months, Dian opens opportunities for people who would like to present art and cultural performances in Malioboro. They will be first selected by a curation team prepared by the Regional Government Special Region of Yogyakarta along with the Yogyakarta City Government.