BNEWS.ID – The Klungkung Regency Government, through its Tourism Office, is once again showcasing local cultural treasures with the Klungkung Heritage Festival 2025, an event aimed at celebrating and preserving the region’s royal legacy and cultural identity.

Head of the Klungkung Tourism Office, Ni Made Sulistiawati, said the festival is part of the Semarapura City Tour program, designed to introduce visitors to the history and cultural richness of Klungkung.

“This festival highlights the cultures of Gelgel and Kamasan. There will be a cultural parade featuring unique regional products such as dulang selaka (silver trays), traditional royal attire, and gebogan processions. Cultural attributes from Kamasan, including kober, lontek, and tedung,  will also be presented,” she explained on Tuesday (Oct 7, 2025).

Through the parade, organizers aim to recreate the grandeur of the Gelgel Kingdom, which once served as the center of Bali’s governance, while also promoting local tourism and regional products. “We want to show that dulang selaka remains relevant and captivating despite the rise of fiber-made replicas,” she added.

The festival will feature a wide range of performances symbolizing harmony among different religious communities in Klungkung, such as Rudat dances, bale ganjur percussion ensembles, and barong parades held in the afternoon. Visitors can also enjoy exhibitions of keris (traditional daggers), traditional music, and Klungkung handicrafts in the evening.

Sulistiawati expressed hope that the event will become an annual highlight, strengthening Klungkung’s image as a center for cultural tourism while supporting the promotion of the Semarapura City Tour package,  featuring destinations like Kerta Gosa and Puri Klungkung.

“Tourist visits to Kerta Gosa continue to rise, but we need to intensify promotional efforts. We plan to collaborate with travel agencies to attract more visitors to Klungkung’s cultural sites,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Klungkung Cooperative Office, Tjokorda I.A. Wiradnyani, noted that the festival also includes an exhibition of local crafts and traditional foods. “There are ten handcraft exhibitors showcasing signature Klungkung items such as genta and bokor selaka, along with 31 culinary participants serving traditional heritage dishes like serombotan, tipat sate, and babi guling,” she explained.

The exhibition will run for two days, from October 10–11, 2025, and is expected to strengthen Klungkung’s image as a unique, historic, and character-rich cultural tourism destination. (*)