Penglipuran Village Festival XII promotes art and environmentally friendly tourism

The Penglipuran Tourism Village in Bangli Regency, Bali Province officially opened Penglipuran Village Festival XII on July 10, 2025. The annual cultural event, which had "Samskerti Bhumi Jana: Harmony Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism," lasted for three days until July 12, 2025. It is listed in the Tourism Ministry's Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) calendar of cultural festivals for 2025.

Penglipuran Tourism Village Management Head Wayan Sumiarsa stated that the theme was chosen to emphasize the village's commitment to realizing tourism that is both ecologically sustainable as well as equitable and inclusive to all levels of society.

"This festival is a form of gratitude for the blessings [we have] received, as well as a sincere invitation for the world to work together to preserve our ancestral heritage for future generations," he said on July 10, 2025.

Penglipuran Village Festival XII is an arts and culture exhibition that is also intended to be an implementation of the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, which emphasizes harmony between humans, nature, and God. This year's edition of the festival is designed to serve as a space for education, appreciation of art, as well as the promotion of environmentally friendly and community-based tourism.

The opening day began with a Gebogan Competition at the Penglipuran Village Penataran Temple's pewaregan (kitchen & dining hall) showcasing the beauty of Balinese fruit and flower offerings arranged in towering arrangements. Meanwhile, the opening ceremony at the Penataran Temple's jabe (front/courtyard) featured the Legong Mesatya Dance, the Colossal Gabor Dance, and a Gebogan Parade.

The events involved hundreds of participants, including junior high school students in Bangli Regency, local artists, representatives from neighboring villages, and officials from the Tourism Ministry, the Environment Ministry, the Bali Provincial Government, and the Bangli Regency Government.

In the afternoon, the Penjor Judging took place at the Heroes Monument to assess the creativity and spiritual meaning of the curved bamboo decorations, a symbol for the welcoming of the Balinese Hindu holy day of Galungan. The evening continued with the announcement of the Penjor winners alongside the Balinese Cultural Entertainment.

On July 11, 2025, Penglipuran Village Festival XII focused on educational and creative activities. Children were invited to participate in the Coloring Competition at the Heroes Monument to learn about Balinese culture from an early age. Various local performing arts and music performances were also presented throughout the day, concluding with another evening of the Balinese Cultural Entertainment.

The culmination of the event is on July 12, 2025, with the Barong Macan Dance Competition at Pelipurlara Market. The performance showcased energetic movements and traditional costumes based on Balinese mythological narratives. The festival also featured culinary and craft micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) booths, providing direct economic benefits to local residents.

The closing ceremony at the Heroes Monument featured local musical entertainment, creating a friendly and festive atmosphere.

Wayan said that the festival also serves as a promotional tool for Penglipuran Tourism Village, a platform for improving the community's tourism competencies, and a form of collective gratitude from the residents.

"We invite all domestic and international tourists to come and experience the harmony of Penglipuran Village. Let's work together to preserve the arts, culture, and environment for a valuable legacy for the future," he urged.

Penglipuran Village is known as one of the cleanest villages in the world. In 2024, the number of visitors to the village reached more than 1 million people, or an average of 2,652 visitors per day. Penglipuran Village was also included in the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism)'s Best Tourism Villages list in 2023.