It showcased Indonesia's rich batik heritage, blending culture and history for visitors

Yogyakarta Station presented an attractive feature at the end of last year. In addition to the five-meter-high Santa Claus statue decoration, there was also a batik exhibition visited by the public. PT KAI Daop 6 Yogyakarta, in collaboration with KAI, organized the Batik Roadshow to enliven the Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holidays at Yogyakarta Station. The batik exhibition with the theme "Exploring Batik, Caring for History" took place from December 21 to 31, 2024, at the Hall of the station's east gate.

This event, in partnership with Lawasan Batik, aimed to preserve Indonesia's cultural heritage while introducing the richness of batik to a wider audience. The exhibition not only showcased the beauty of batik but also connected it with a rich history and cultural journey, particularly related to railway transportation in Indonesia.

The exhibition combined the history of railway transportation with the cultural wealth of the archipelago through 30 meaningful collections of Vorstenlanden batik. Vorstenlanden referred to the royal areas under the rule of four monarchies that were part of the Mataram Sultanate: Kasunanan Surakarta, Kasultanan Yogyakarta, Kadipaten Mangkunegaran, and Kadipaten Pakualaman.

As one of the oldest stations in Indonesia, Yogyakarta Station had witnessed the cultural and economic journey of Yogyakarta. Trains not only served as a means of transportation but also acted as a bridge between various traditions, including batik, which was recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. The first railway line in Indonesia, built in 1867 by the Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NISM), connected Semarang and Yogyakarta and played an important role in transporting agricultural products, including indigofera (indigo), which was a major export commodity at the time. This blue dye was closely linked to Vorstenlanden batik, which featured classic motifs with symbolic colors.

Through Yogyakarta and Lempuyangan Stations, we could understand how trains had played a role in preserving and spreading this cultural wealth, connecting Yogyakarta with other regions, and strengthening the nation's identity.

The Batik Roadshow with KAI was also enlivened with various interesting activities, including the Batik Exhibition, Batik Fashion Show, Nyanting and Healing, Jogja Walking Tour, and more. The exhibition successfully provided an enjoyable and educational experience, combining the richness of batik culture with the history of railway transportation, offering in-depth insights and enriching the Christmas and New Year holiday moments for the visitors.

photo source : antaranews.com [PT KAI]

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