Cirebon Mask Festival 2025 features mask dances, workshop

Cirebon City Government held the Cirebon Mask Festival 2025 at the Cirebon Mask Museum on Apr. 25, 2025. Cirebon Deputy Mayor Siti Farida Rosmawati, who officially opened the activity, considered the Cirebon Mask Festival 2025 as a meeting space between the past and the future.

"With masks as the main symbol that holds the philosophy and spiritual wealth of the Cirebon community," she explained.

Siti considered every dance, movement, and expression of the mask to convey a noble message.

"Humans truly continue to struggle between what is visible and what is true, between social obligations and the voice of conscience," she said.

This festival, continued Siti, should also be a bridge for collaboration across generations and nations.

"Performing arts and crafts have become creative economic forces that strengthen the character of the nation amid the strong currents of globalization," she said.

Culture, Siti explained, is the main element that provides direction, spirit, and identity for the journey of Cirebon City.

“The Cirebon Mask Festival provides momentum to raise the self-confidence of the people of Cirebon City," she said.

Acting Cirebon City Tourism Office Secretary Ramli Effendi added that a cultural workshop was also held at the festival.

“The workshop was designed so that participants could get closer to the culture of Cirebon City through direct practice,” he explained.

The workshop was attended by 88 participants, consisting of school students, college students, and accompanying lecturers. The festival's committee also prepared prizes for the best participants.

The main event of Cirebon Mask Festival 2025 was held at the night of Apr. 26, 2025, with performances by five Mask dance groups, namely Panji Mask, Samba Mask, Rumyang Mask, Tumenggung Mask, and Kelana Mask.