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Osing people of Kemiren village, Glagah district, Banyuwangi regency, East Java has unique tradition, so-called ‘Barong Ider Bumi’. The tradition is routinely held on the second day of Idul Fitri, or 2 Syawal of Islamic calendar. Because, number 2 has its own meaning for Osing people. Kemiren people always associate the tradition with thing which is in a pair such as heaven and hell, men and women, day and night. Besides, some traditions of Kemiren villagers are often held on Tuesday and Thursday. Barong Ider Bumi tradition is traditional ritual. The ritual is clean ceremony of the village.

Usually, the ceremony begins at 2 o’clock PM. Osing people are taboo to conduct the tradition beyond the time, because beyond the specified time, it is believed to bring about disaster to the community. Barong is a kind of custom with mask and accessories as depictions of frightening animal. In mythology of Osing people, Barong is believed as symbol of kindness which has ability to cast out bad evils. 

Osing people believe that by conducting Barong Ider Bumi tradition, a year life will make happy. The ceremony is held as form of gratitude to the Almighty on His blessing to give peace and prosperity to villagers. In addition, Barong Ider Bumi tradition is believed to be able to drive away disaster or bad luck. In belief of Osing people, Barong can be possessed by the soul of ancestor. the word of Ider bumi is compound words, namely ider and bumi. Ider means to go around and bumi means earth. So, the two words mean an event of going around the earth.

In accordance with its name, the point of Barong Ider Bumi ritual is to parade barong going around the village. Before Barong is paraded, the village elders play Angklung at village’s hall to begin the ritual. Afterwards, all Kemiren villagers come out from the houses and then they begin to parade Barong Osing from the entrance gate of the village to the exit gate of the village.  Along the parade, traditional figures spread coins, yellow rice and flower to the street and these are seized by kids. The ritual is named ‘Sembur  utik-utik’.

During Barong Osing parade, those Barongs are also followed by the elders who walk side by side while carrying incense and reading prayer for security of all villagers. The parade is accompanied by Osing traditional music. At the end of the village, the villagers and the Barong players seize bananas which are displayed. They believe if they eat the bananas, they will be safe and to be given  simplicity in their life.

Here is RRI World Service, Voice of Indonesia, wherever you are, welcome back to the regular segment of Music Corner, a musical segment which introduces you to Indonesian music, either traditional or modern one. In today’s edition, Music Corner present religious popular songs from Gito Rollies.

The singer with the real name Bangun Sugito is a vocalist of the famous band The Rollies in the 1960s. In addition to The Rollies, Gito also actively released the album as a solo singer. He has released 15 albums including religious albums. The religious album entitled "Kembali Pada Nya" was released in 2007. The album "Kembali PadaNya"​​ containes the song "Cinta Yang Tulus". In a new version of the song, Gito collaborated with Gigi band group. The lyrics of the new version of the song was slightly different. This song tells the story of human being who gets enlightenment, so that he returns to the path of GOD.

The song which was composed by Lies Hadi was also dedicated by Renny Djajoesman, in 2017. Through this song, Renny Djajoesman want to remember and pay tribute to Gito who died in 2008. The song "hanya PadaMU Aku Bergantung”, tells the story about a man’s devotion toward the creator, GOD Almighty.

Welcome to “Indonesian Wonder”, a daily segment featuring tourism, culinary arts, fine arts and culture from various regions across Indonesia. In today’s edition, we will introduce Arja Dance from Bali.

One typical of art in Bali that is still favored by the local people is Arja Dance. The type of art is in the form of a theater or a kind of Balinese opera in the form of a dramatic dialogue of Macapat. How the theater actually got the name, nobody knows, but the allegations are from the Sanskrit expressions of Reja which then got the prefix "a" to become Areja then finally turned into Arja which means beauty. Then the phrase is currently used to name the Arja theater as we can see it nowdays.

In Bali, Arja dance was firstly appeared in the 1814 during the reign of I Dewa Agung Sakti in Puri Klungkung. The drama of Arja dance take the story derived from the Panji stories, but occasionally take the story from Jayaprana, Pakang Raras, Sampik, Rare Angon. Arja dance was originally performed by one dancers only and is not being accompanied by gamelan. Arja is called Arja Doyong. Since its performance, Arja Dance became an entertainment of Balinese people.

According to its function Arja Dance is classified into Balinese Dance-balihan group or theater, As a form of theater Arja is a very complex theater art because it is a fusion of various types of arts that are available in Bali, such as dance, drama, vocal, instrumental art, poetry, role art, pantomime art, fashion, and fine arts. All types of art are united in Arja Dance. Arja is actually a unification of two theatrical supporters, namely the idea that comes from supporters (players) and the audience.

As a form of theater art, Arja is very communicative with the audience. For the Bali, this is not surprising, like other forms of art. From the development Arja is still very popular among Balinese people, as can be seen on the willingness of people to enliven the festival held annually until today. So, Arja Dance is still scattered in many areas, such as Bangli, Klungkung, Gianyar, Anlapura, Badung, Tabanan, Jembrana and Singaraja.

In addition to an entertainment show, Arja also has educational function. Usually after watching Arja performance, the local community imitating the songs and jokes displayed by the group for days. They will repeat funny movements or expressions about intriguing events in daily life.

Therefore, Arja is a very powerful communication facility to deliver messages. That was Indonesian Wonder for today with the topic “Arja Dance from Bali”.

The first information is from the Philippines.

At Malacanang Palace in Manila, the Philippines on Monday (28/5), Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Sinyo Harry Sarundajang accompanied by Deputy Chief Indonesian representative in Manila, Budi Dhewajani and military attaché, Col. Sony Hendayana handed over credentials to President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte.  Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was accompanied by Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Alan Cayetano and a number of officials of the Philippines’ foreign affairs. The event was begun by ​ laying of wreaths at Rizal Park National Monument and ended by bilateral meeting. In the meeting, the Philippines’ President conveyed his hope on the increasing of bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and the Philippines in the future, especially border cooperation, terrorism eradication, trade and investment. At the meeting, the plan of signature of purchase of 4 unit Diesel Multiple Trains and 3 Diesel Hydraulic Locomotive Trains was discussed between PT INKA (Indonesia) and Philippines National Railway -PNR.​ The President also indicated the plan of his existence on Informal ASEAN Leaders Meeting in Bali in October 2018.

The next information is from Egypt.

There are around 2 Indonesian products which are well known in Egypt, namely noodle from Indomie of Egypt and Ban Gajah Tunggal factory. The two products are spread out beginning from the urban areas until to a number of small towns. Indomie becomes the main producer of noodle product in Egypt. General Manager of Indomie, Gunawan Harianto said in Cairo on Tuesday (29/5) that after more than 10years to build noodle factory in Egypt, the existence of its product is more famous. Even, when fasting month, the noodle product is used for Iftar and Sahur, like other staple foods in Egypt.

We end Diplomatic Corner with information from Brunei. 

Although implementing fast, Indonesian embassy and people in Brunei Darussalam are still active to do blood donor. At the second phase of ten days in the month of Ramadhan 1439 H, Indonesian people in Brunei Darussalam are still active in various events. Fasting does not become obstacle to keep working and to do various activities. Take for example, on Saturday (26/5), Indonesian Migrant Worker community in Brunei Darussalam held blood donor social event. Cooperating with Blood Donor Center, RIPAS Hospital – Bandar Seri Begawan, hundreds of members of Indonesian people from various communities participated in the event which was also attended by Shinta Hapsari, the first secretary of information social culture. Chairman of the Indonesian Migrant Worker of Brunei Darussalam, Sihabudin said that the donors were fasting and working as usual. Even, they also participated in Iftar and did prayer together with the Indonesian embassy in the evening. Sihabudin added that his side plans to hold similar event in July 2018. Besides the activity of blood donor, the Indonesian people also routinely participate in Iftar event with the Indonesian embassy every week, which is attended by more than 200 people from various communities.  The event is also filled with by lecture by Indonesian Muslim scholars who stay in Brunei Darussalam. Most of the speakers are lecturers and teachers in various universities and famous schools in Brunei Darussalam. In addition to the event, the Indonesian embassy also actively holds religious event at temporary shelter of the Indonesian embassy. Every day, Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Sujatmiko, staffs and Indonesian citizens who are at the shelter, do Dzuhur prayer together and this is continued with lecture by the Indonesian embassy’s staff. At the evening, cooperating with Dompet Dhuafa and people’s organization of “Permai", the Indonesian embassy holds Tarawih prayer together at the shelter.