Kudus Regency Caping Kalo cultural preservation

To celebrate the 477th anniversary of Kudus Regency, a large-scale performance of the Tari Lajur Caping Kalo dance was held at the Kudus Regency Pendopo on September 26, 2026. Featuring between 670 and 675 dancers, the event successfully set a Museum Rekor Dunia Indonesia (MURI) record.

The performance was designed to revitalize interest in the Caping Kalo, a traditional female head covering. Organizers noted that the craft is becoming increasingly rare due to a declining number of bamboo weavers and artisans. The dance itself was developed to symbolize the movement of bamboo processing into the traditional headwear, serving as a medium to reintroduce its cultural history to the public.

The initiative was a collaborative effort involving the Kudus Regency Government, PT Nojorono Tobacco International, and the Yayasan Kebudayaan dan Bantuan Nusantara (YKBN). Indonesian Deputy Minister of Culture, Giring Ganesha, attended the event and emphasized that preservation efforts must include the regeneration of artisans and the transfer of knowledge to younger generations. The Ministry of Culture has expressed support for proposing the Caping Kalo as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.