Gov’t Names 7 November as National Wayang Day

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on 17 December 2018 signed a Presidential Decree Number 30 of 2018 on the National Wayang Day on 7 November.

The Government said it is necessary to establish the Presidential Decree as wayang continues to grow and develop to become invaluable cultural assets in building Indonesia’s character and identity. In addition, the designation of the National Wayang Day is important to raise public awareness and instill passion for wayang, it said.

“7 November is stipulated as as National Wayang Day,” reads the first dictum of the Presidential Decree. Under the Presidential Decree, it is also stated that the National Wayang Day is not a public holiday.

“This Presidential Decree shall take effect from the date of its stipulation,” reads the third dictum, stipulated in Jakarta on 17 December 2018.

Wayang is a form of puppet theatre art found in Indonesia in which a dramatic story is told through shadows thrown by puppets and sometimes combined with human characters. Wayang refers to the entire dramatic show and the leather puppet itself is sometimes referred to as wayang.

(Center of Data and Information of Cabinet Secretariat/ES)

Translated by: Muhardi

Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas