The excitement of the 25th Five Mountains Festival (FLG) 2026 officially began in Warangan Hamlet, Muneng Warangan Village, Magelang Regency, on Friday (10/7/2026). The independent cultural event, initiated by farmer-artists, opened with a contemporary procession titled "Nandur Eling" or planting memories, embodied through the planting of greening tree seedlings on local village communal land.
The procession involved five central figures: community elder Darto, Warangan Hamlet Head Budiono, Muneng Warangan Village Secretary Solichin, KLG Chairman Sujono, and cultural practitioner Sutanto Mendut. Five types of tree seedlings—krengsek, kersen, pule, guava, and durian—were planted as symbols of hope that the cultural values of mountain communities will continue to grow and endure amidst the changing times.
Chairman of the Five Mountains Community (KLG), Sujono, emphasized that "Nandur Eling" is not merely ceremonial. This ritual serves as a reminder for community members to continuously preserve local wisdom such as mutual cooperation, courtesy, and harmony with nature. He highlighted the importance of maintaining ancestral heritage amidst the rapid development of information technology so that the nation's noble character remains preserved.
The festival, which runs until July 12, 2026, carries the theme "Makin Goblok Bareng" (Becoming Foolish Together), an invitation to practice humility in striving for a better communal life. A total of 85 art groups with 1,274 personnel are scheduled to perform, presenting a collaboration of traditional and contemporary arts, as well as cultural symposia on stages decorated with natural ornaments such as straw and bamboo.
Cultural expert Sutanto Mendut added that FLG is a testament to the persistence of farming communities in upholding traditions in modern times. Since it was first held in 2002 in Warangan Hamlet, this festival has proven itself as an independent force of village communities in nurturing cultural identity in a region surrounded by five major mountains: Merapi, Merbabu, Andong, Sumbing, and Menoreh.
