Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) Yogyakarta, in collaboration with the Protestant Christian Church in Bali (GKPB) Pniel Blimbingsari Congregation, successfully hosted a unique liturgical concert titled Balinese Christmas in Yogyakarta: A Liturgical Concert. The event, held on December 16, 2024, at UKDW’s Koinonia Auditorium, seamlessly combined Balinese gamelan music, traditional Balinese dance, a joint choir performance by Gong El Semara and PS Etheral Voice, and a liturgical dance presented by ISI Yogyakarta. This celebration served as a powerful testament to the unity of faith and cultural diversity.
Event Chair Distraiden Bil Romero, S.Si., Teol., expressed gratitude for the collective efforts behind the event’s success. “This concert embodies the spirit of cross-cultural collaboration, uniting differences in a shared celebration. Despite the logistical and communication challenges between Yogyakarta and Bali, our shared commitment made this event possible,” he said.
UKDW Rector Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih, S.T., M.T., and Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Theology, Rev. Handi Hadiwitanto, Ph.D., extended their heartfelt appreciation to everyone involved in making the event a success. They expressed hopes for future events that would continue to strengthen cross-cultural bonds and deepen the participants’ faith.
The liturgical concert highlighted how traditional art and spiritual values can coexist harmoniously. Balinese Christmas in Yogyakarta went beyond religious observance, fostering cross-cultural solidarity and celebrating the spirit of Indonesia’s rich diversity.
Through this event, UKDW reaffirmed its role as an inclusive and forward-thinking institution, committed to embracing diversity as a living manifestation of faith and service. [Penta/trans.drr]