Singaraja– Efforts to preserve the Balinese script were carried out by the Student Association of the Department of Indonesian and Regional Languages, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Ganesha University of Education. This was demonstrated through a palm-leaf shooting competition with SMA/SMK participants throughout Bali, Friday (10/18/2019).
The Head of the Committee, I Gusti Ayu Putu Pradnyani explained that the competition which took place at the Undiksha Auditorium was attended by 48 participants, consisting of 26 girls and 22 boys. It is hoped that through this activity, students’ ability to write Balinese script using lontar will increase. Likewise with the existence of Balinese script in society. “This is also one of the efforts to preserve Balinese culture,” she said.
Deputy Dean III of the Undiksha Faculty of Languages and Arts, Dr. I Nyoman Sila, M.Hum appreciated the competition for the rector’s rotating trophy. It is hoped that in the future more participants will be involved. Even if possible also come from college. “This is a form of cultural preservation. Of course, we really support it,” he said after opening the event.
Apart from being the organizer of the competition, students are also encouraged to be involved in conservation and must be supported by the study program. “We continue to encourage student advisors, most importantly study programs to be able to guide students in order to preserve culture,” he said. Delivered further, this competition must also be able to be a medium for the promotion of departments, faculties, and universities so that the number of students in the future will increase. “Of course, this is part of campus promotion,” he said.
In addition to lontar yurats, this department also held a speech competition for junior high school level Balinese in Buleleng Regency, writing Balinese poetry, and a short story competition in Indonesian with general participants throughout Bali. The peak of this activity took place on October 27 2019 which was closed with an Arts Evening. “In the future, maybe there could be a prasi competition,” added Sila. (hms)
