Warangan Hamlet on the slopes of Mount Merbabu, Magelang Regency, now looks more charming as it welcomes the grand event of the 25th Lima Gunung Festival (FLG). The village access road, which was previously damaged, is now smooth thanks to comprehensive paving, providing extra comfort for visitors who will attend on July 10-12, 2026.
This quarter-century celebration is an important milestone for the community initiated by cultural figure Sutanto Mendut since 1997. Starting from the desire to revive hamlet bases through the power of local rituals and arts, this festival has transformed into a symbol of citizens' independence, consistently refusing dependence on sponsor funds, both public and private, since the "Sumpah Tanah" (Oath of the Land) declaration in 2010.
The head of the local committee, Teguh Suharianto, emphasized that although there was road infrastructure improvement by the government, all technical needs for the festival—from the stage to accommodation—remain self-funded by the community. This spirit of gotong royong (mutual cooperation) is the main soul that keeps the festival relevant despite the dynamics of changing times.
A total of 1,274 artists from 85 art groups, the result of strict curation by Nabila Rivani and team, are scheduled to perform on the 25th FLG stage. The variety of performances includes dance, music, theater, and art installations, including the presentation of the "Lima Gunung Award" to Mbah Kitri, an 81-year-old senior artist who has dedicated his life to local culture.
Interestingly, this year's festival carries the provocative theme "Makin Goblok Bareng" (Getting Foolish Together). According to Sutanto Mendut, this theme is not a form of despair, but rather a manifestation of humility and lowliness of heart to continue learning. For the community, the success of the festival lies not in the value of rupiahs, but in the emotional closeness and honesty of conscience in nurturing culture on the slopes of the Central Java mountains.
