The Role of Traditional Festival in Islamic Historic District to Achieve Local Community Wellbeing
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Traditional Architecture: The Role of Traditional Festival in Islamic Historic District to Achieve Local Community Wellbeing Arif Budi Sholihah1*, Putu Ayu Agustiananda2, Junanah3, Wisnu Setiawan4 1,2,3 Department of Architecture, Universitas Islam Indonesia 4 Department of Architecture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta [email protected]* , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] Received: 20th June 2019 Final version received: 24th December 2019 The current studies demonstrate how tourism activities have incorporated the role of festival and heritage to address socio-cultural, economic, political, and environmental issues. In the context of Indonesia, the cultural festival has been used to be one medium of Islamic preaching, since the era of Walisongo in the sixteenth century. Several local level festival appears to attract a large number of visitors which later influences the sustainability of the place, including Ya Qowiyyu Festival in Jatinom, Klaten, Central Java. Preserving the tradition for hundreds of years, the local community in Jatinom maintains this cultural practice until the present day. This research aims to explore the dynamics between the festivals of Islamic culture in Indonesia in achieving the local community wellbeing in the context of sustainable development. It utilizes qualitative inquiry that sees there are multiple, socially constructed realities. The technique used was observation and in-depth interviews with open-ended questions. The study demonstrates the success of Ya Qowiyyu Festival in addressing social, economic, and environmental issues in the area. For example, it generates community contentment and provides a financial contribution to stakeholders and local communities that enhance their wellbeing. Keywords: Community Wellbeing, Traditional Festival, Islamic Historic District 1. INTRODUCTION extended to the promotion of a city/village, The worldwide experience notes that intangible tourists attraction, and cultural entertainment cultural events have become one way to maintain provision to the local community which cultural heritage in a massive way, which often influence on quality of life improvement (Cudny, incorporate arts and performances, rituals, and Korec&Rouba, 2012, in Yolal et al., 2016). In also festivals (S. Kim, Whitford, & Arcodia, addition to that, festivals often take place in the 2019). In particular, cultural festivals often refer historical places which incorporate heritage built to artistic and cultural performances that are now environment (Ma & Lew, 2012). The atmosphere a worldwide tourism phenomenon (Chacko & of heritage offers a unique experience for visitors Schaffer, 1993; Getz, 1991; Grant & Pallwoda, away from their daily life. In fact, the uniqueness 1998). The creativity produced in cultural and quality of festivals significantly influence festivals has emerged as an enhancement for a the success of the festival. Heritage built city to posit itself compared to other cities in the environment becomes a strategy to secure world (Richards, 2001). This contributes to authenticity; heritage brings a strong context to building the uniqueness of the place. the events. This helps the events to survive by maintaining the tourists' expectations from time In its development, festivals have various to time. meanings that pinpoint to cultural activities (cultural performance) (Heriyawati, 2005), Tourism activities relying on the festival and cultural ritual activities to show the identity of heritage would generate beneficiaries not only the community (HS Salim, 2005), as well as from the historical dimensions, but also in term activities to show the cultural heritage of a of economic, socio-cultural, political, and community (Yolal, Gursoy, & Uysal, 2016). In environmental contexts (Ma & Lew, 2012). the present era, the purpose of the festival is not Festivals are analysed in the context of various only related to culture and identity but also dimensions from place-making strategies to geopolitical issues; festivals even touch upon the 13 Journal of Design and Built Environment, Vol19(3) 13-23, December 2019 A.Sholihah et al. discussion from sustainable (Perry, Ager, Sitas, happiness, and life satisfaction (McCrea, & Perry, 2019) and its contribution to wellbeing Walton, & Leonard, 2014). Measuring in general. wellbeing in a community is vital to know how that community is faring; it, Table: The Dimension of Community Wellbeing therefore, provides critical information and Sustainable Community for decision-making regarding sustainable development in regional communities No Dimension Community Sustainable (Al-Haydari, 2011). The definition of Wellbeing Community well being in community-level refers to 1 Environment Environmental Sustainable the satisfaction of the local people with quality1,3,6, development, the local place, how they attach to it, how sustainable environmental the social and physical environment environment quality, quality is, and the services and facilities (built and disaster provided (Forjaz et al., 2011). According natural)4,6 resilience to (Wiseman & Brasher, 2008, p.358) 2 Economic Economic Sustainable prosperity5, economic ‘Community wellbeing is the combination income wellbeing, of social, economic, environmental, sufficiency1,6, economic cultural, and political conditions resilient local vitality identified by individuals and their economy4, communities as essential for them to employment flourish and fulfill their potential.’ The and business discussion of community wellbeing 6 opportunities covers at least five dimensions: 3 Social Social equity, Social environment, economic, social, culture, community sustainability, spirit, social and place attachment, and services, in neighborhood inter- comparison with the dimension of safety, informal generational sustainable development from the tourism social equity, active industry point of view, as summarised in interaction, participation Table 1. trust and reciprocity Sustainable development is generally community defined as the 'development that meets the 4 Cultural Culturally rich Cultural needs of the present without and vibrant sustainability compromising the ability of future community4, cultural generations to meet their own needs,' as vitality5, coined by the Brundtland Report in 1987 spiritual (S. Kim et al., 2019). In the context of quality2 tourism development, the industry has 5 Attachment Place Sustainable acknowledged the sustainable attachment1,6, community development approach into its practices, community for example, in a relationship with socio- 3 attachment cultural and environmental issues. On the 6 Services The appearance Environmental other hand, the definition of sustainable (incl. Health) of built sustainability, tourism seems to vary due to a wide range and Facilities environment1,6, quality of life infrastructure6, of interpretations, similarly with the case services and of 'sustainable development.' However, a facilities6 short definition has been proposed that source: summarised from various references 'sustainable tourism activities must meet (Christakopoulou, S., Dawson, J., & Gari, the social and economic of today needs 2001), (Sirgy, M. J., Widgery, R. N., Lee, D. without result in the significant natural J., & Yu, 2010), (Forjaz et al., 2011), (Morton, and cultural environment for the future A., & Edwards, 2012), (Al-Haydari, 2011), generation' (S. Kim et al., 2019). This (McCrea et al., 2014) definition is further elaborated into three dimensions summarised by the World The concept of wellbeing has been used Tourism Organization (UNWTO, 2019): interchangeably with quality of life, (1) environment: optimal use of 14 Journal of Design and Built Environment, Vol19(3) 13-23, December 2019 A.Sholihah et al. environmental resources as key element festival in Indonesia can be classified in several in tourism development; (2) social: socio- types of rites or activities, including (1) cultural authenticity of communities, built purification rite, (2) rite of transition, (3) rite and living cultural heritage and traditional reversal, (4) party, symposia, (5) exhibition, (6) values, and inter-cultural understanding drama, and (7) rite of exchange (HS Salim, and tolerance; (3) economic: providing 2005). long-term socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders, stable and contributing to Having the biggest Muslim population in the poverty alleviation. world, the discussion of heritage and conservation in Indonesia often links to the In response to the idea of sustainable position of Islam culture (Koentjaraningrat, tourism development and community 1944). For example, the history notes that the wellbeing, various researches on cultural Islamic culture and local culture in Indonesia has festivals mainly focus on evaluating the been mingled and blended over centuries, one of impact of festival existence on the them through literature, such as Serat Centhini economic impact and success of the (Junanah, 2009). Islam in Indonesia is the result festival itself as a cultural activity of the da'wah process that is carried out (Bracalente, Chirieleison, Cossignani, & culturally so that in a short time can be accepted, Ferrucci, 2011; Crompton, 2001; K. Kim developed, spread, and embraced by the majority & Uysal, 2003; Tohmo, 2005; Tyrrell & of Indonesian people. Islam in Indonesia enters Ismail, 2005). The economic and political subtly without violence until it can be seen that approach is often used, particularly in Islamic cultural values have integrated