Legokkalong, July 22, 2023 – A joyful atmosphere filled Dukuh Dukuhsari, a hamlet located in Legokkalong Village, Karanganyar Subdistrict, Pekalongan Regency, precisely in RT 02, on Saturday (7/22). This event involved one of the students participating in the Real Work Lecture (KKN) program from Team II of Diponegoro University (UNDIP) named Muhammad Addifa Syahrie, a student majoring in Social Anthropology. With high spirits, UNDIP KKN students embarked on their mission to rekindle children’s enthusiasm for traditional games.
Dukuh Dukuhsari, like many other hamlets, has witnessed a shift in the lives of its children. The era of technology has taken over, making children more interested in electronic devices than traditional games that should have filled their childhood.
In response to this issue, KKN students aimed to understand that local culture and traditions should not be abandoned. They sought to recreate these precious moments of togetherness. Moreover, the KKN students also taught and explained the origins of the games, the rules, and the values embedded within them.
Under the late afternoon sun, Muhammad Addifa Syahrie began to set up traditional games such as snakes and ladders, congklak, yoyo, bird whistle flutes, wooden spinning tops, coconut shell percussion, bamboo spinning tops, and marbles around the Dukuh Dukuhsari settlement, specifically in RT 02. Children who were initially hesitant quickly engaged in the games with heartwarming enthusiasm. Their laughter filled the air, bringing back the joy experienced by previous generations. In interviews with some villagers, it was revealed that traditional games like these had long been forgotten due to the modern lifestyle dominated by gadgets.
This program brought happiness back to the children of Dukuh Dukuhsari and strengthened local culture. Through these efforts, KKN students hope to help the village community reconnect with their cultural roots and revive long-lost local wisdom. By reintroducing traditional games, they have successfully carved out a meaningful new chapter in the lives of Dukuh Dukuhsari’s children.
Author: Muhammad Addifa Syahrie (Student of UNDIP KKN Team II Academic Year 2022/2023)
UNDIP KKN Team II Academic Year 2022/2023 Legokkalong Village, Karanganyar Subdistrict, Pekalongan Regency, Central Java Province
Field Supervisor: Syachril Warasambi Mispaki, S.T., M.Eng.