Photo: Dissemination of Research, Artistic Creation, and Art-Design Dissemination (P2DSD) 2026, Commemorating the Centennial of Rarud Batur, held at Pura Kahyangan Jagat Ulun Danu Batur, Batur Traditional Village, Kintamani, Bangli, Monday (3 August).
The Institut Seni Indonesia Bali (ISI Bali) once again demonstrated its commitment to advancing research-based artistic practices through the implementation of the 2026 Research, Artistic Creation, and Art-Design Dissemination (P2DSD) Program. Marking the centennial commemoration of Rarud Batur, ISI Bali presented three research-derived artistic works: the contemporary dance fragment Ranu Saraswati Rena, Tari Tengklung Kebah, and the musical composition Cipta Gamelan Saraswati. These performances were staged at Pura Kahyangan Jagat Ulun Danu Batur, Batur Traditional Village, Kintamani, Bangli, on Monday (3 August).
These three artistic productions represent both the dissemination of research outcomes and a tribute to the historical legacy, spirituality, and indigenous knowledge of the Batur community that have been preserved across generations. The performances formed part of the Centennial Commemoration of Rarud Batur, a historic occasion marking one hundred years since the relocation of the Batur Traditional Village community from Batur Let to Batur Karangan Anyar following the devastating eruption of Mount Batur in August 1926.
Photo: Rector of ISI Bali, Prof. Dr. Wayan “Kun” Adnyana, delivering his remarks during the 2026 P2DSD dissemination event commemorating the Centennial of Rarud Batur at Pura Kahyangan Jagat Ulun Danu Batur.
In his address, Rector Prof. Dr. Wayan “Kun” Adnyana described the Batur region as a center of knowledge that continuously flows like the waters of Lake Batur. He emphasized that this knowledge is not only embedded within the traditions of the local community but also serves as a vital source of inspiration for scientific inquiry, artistic research, and creative production at ISI Bali.
“ISI Bali honors the abundance of knowledge that flows endlessly like the waters of Lake Batur. This knowledge continues to spread and resonate across regions, inspiring the academic and artistic endeavors of our institution,” he stated.
According to Prof. Adnyana, through the 2026 P2DSD Program, ISI Bali conducted four research projects involving approximately 175 participants, including faculty members, educational staff, and students. These projects were led by Prof. Dr. Wayan Suardana, Dr. Made Kartawan, Wayan Diana Putra, M.Sn., and AA Ayu Mayun Artati, M.Sn.
Photo: The 2026 Research, Artistic Creation, and Art-Design Dissemination (P2DSD) Program, commemorating the Centennial of Rarud Batur, held at Pura Kahyangan Jagat Ulun Danu Batur, Batur Traditional Village, Kintamani, Bangli, on Monday, 3 August 2026.
He further emphasized that all artistic works presented constitute an interpretation of the emergence of a new civilization in Batur while remaining firmly connected to its historical origins in Batur Let, whose cultural foundations have existed for thousands of years. According to him, ISI Bali maintains both sekala (tangible) and niskala (intangible/spiritual) relationships with Batur, which continue to be nurtured through education, research, artistic creation, and community engagement.
Prof. Adnyana also explained that ISI Bali venerates the sacred effigy (sesuhunan) Ratu Ayu Mas Membah, a ceremonial mask created by the late Balinese master artist Cok Alit Artawan from wood originating from Pura Dalem Serongga, one of the sacred temples associated with Batur. The sacred effigy has been internalized by the university’s academic community as a symbol of inspiration for creative expression and continuous exploration of ancestral knowledge.
Photo: Dissemination of Research, Artistic Creation, and Art-Design Dissemination (P2DSD) 2026 at Pura Kahyangan Jagat Ulun Danu Batur.
Representing the Batur customary authority, Jro Penyarikan Duuran Batur expressed appreciation to ISI Bali for its active participation in commemorating the Centennial of Rarud Batur through research-based artistic productions. He noted that the relocation of the Batur Traditional Village following the 1926 eruption of Mount Batur was not merely a physical migration but also a profound historical event that tested the resilience of the community’s cultural identity, spirituality, and social solidarity.
He further emphasized that the centennial commemoration should not merely serve as a ceremonial remembrance of the past but should instead become a collective movement dedicated to preserving noble cultural values, strengthening cultural identity, and fostering a sustainable, harmonious, and resilient future for the Batur community.
One of the featured performances was the contemporary dance fragment Ranu Saraswati Rena, which narrates the relocation of the Batur Let community to Batur Karangan Anyar after the 1926 eruption of Mount Batur. Through the integration of dance, music, and dramatic performance, the work portrays the community’s determination to preserve sacred religious manuscripts, Raja Purana, pratima (sacred heirlooms), and ceremonial objects as enduring symbols of cultural continuity and spirituality. The centennial of Rarud Batur is interpreted as a heritage of knowledge and devotion to Hyang Dewi Danu, who serves as the principal spiritual inspiration for the work.
The dance was composed by Dr. Made Kartawan and Dr. I Nyoman Kariasa, with choral direction by Nyoman Nik Suasti, S.Sn., and choreography by AA Ayu Mayun Artati, M.Sn., I Gede Oka Surya Negara, S.ST., M.Sn., and Gede Radiana Putra, M.Sn.
ISI Bali also disseminated Tari Tengklung Kebah, a dance inspired by the movements of traditional Balinese martial arts (tengklung or pencak silat). The choreography illustrates the spirit of Balinese youth cultivating agility, strength, and resilience through dynamic martial movements characterized by firm stances, agile defensive techniques, and energetic footwork. The choreography was created by I Gede Oka Surya Negara, S.ST., M.Sn., with musical composition by I Wayan Diana Putra, S.Sn., M.Sn.
Photo: Dissemination of Research, Artistic Creation, and Art-Design Dissemination (P2DSD) 2026.
The event also featured the musical composition Cipta Gamelan Saraswati, developed from scholarly research on Tabuh Pat Parianom, a traditional musical heritage of the Batur Traditional Village. The composition draws upon the symbolism of Dewi Saraswati as the embodiment of knowledge and Betari Danu as the source of prosperity, expressing the idea that environmental conservation knowledge constitutes a fundamental pillar in the development of civilization.
Through the transformation of the musical formulation of Tabuh Pat Parianom into a contemporary musical grammar, Cipta Gamelan Saraswati demonstrates how local knowledge embedded within the ritual life of the Batur community continues to evolve while acquiring new academic dimensions through research and artistic creation at ISI Bali. The composition was created by I Wayan Diana Putra, S.Sn., M.Sn., Dr. I Nyoman Kariasa, S.Sn., M.Sn., and I Made Dwi Andika Putra, S.Sn., M.Sn., with choral arrangement by Ni Komang Sekar Marheni, S.S.P., M.Si.
Through these three artistic works, ISI Bali reaffirmed that research and artistic creation should not remain solely as academic outputs but should be disseminated to the broader community as instruments for education, cultural preservation, and the strengthening of collective memory concerning local history and indigenous knowledge. The Centennial of Rarud Batur thus became a collaborative platform connecting an arts higher education institution with the customary community in safeguarding the continuity of Bali’s cultural heritage through scholarly, artistic, and spiritual approaches.
(ISI Bali/Public Relations)
Photo: The 2026 Research, Artistic Creation, and Art-Design Dissemination (P2DSD) program, Commemorating the Centennial of Rarud Batur, held at Pura Kahyangan Jagat Ulun Danu Batur, Batur Traditional Village, Kintamani, Bangli, on Monday, 3 August 2026.
