Jember, en.SERU.co.id – The 14th Egrang Festival, initiated by the Tanoker Community in Ledokombo, Jember, officially kicked off on Saturday (9/5/2026). The annual event is not only a platform for preserving traditional culture but is also widely regarded as a vital instrument for maintaining children’s mental health in the digital era.
Attending the festival, Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Nezar Patria, expressed high appreciation for Tanoker’s consistency. According to him, the festival effectively promotes local social and economic ecosystems in Jember.
“We extend our highest appreciation to Tanoker for organizing the 14th Egrang Festival. This activity is capable of driving social and economic growth in Ledokombo and Jember,” Nezar stated on Saturday (9/5/2026).
Amid the massive use of gadgets, Nezar emphasized that the traditional game of egrang (stilt walking) holds strong relevance for today’s younger generation. Egrang, he said, provides a much-needed “break” for children, preventing them from being constantly glued to digital screens.
“Children need a pause to sharpen their emotional intelligence. Through Egrang, they learn collaboration, how to maintain balance, and the spirit to rise again even after falling,” he explained.
Furthermore, Nezar announced that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs plans to align the festival with its digital well-being program. The goal is to ensure children’s mental health is preserved through a balance between physical activity and the digital world.
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“We will expand the activities so they align with the digital well-being program for our children’s digital mental health,” he said.
Echoing the Deputy Minister, the Acting Regional Secretary of Jember Regency, Akhmad Helmi Luqman, also praised the resilience of the Tanoker Community, which has preserved this tradition for 14 years. For Helmi, a festival spanning more than a decade is proof of an extraordinary love for ancestral heritage.
“Fourteen years is no short journey. This is evidence of cultural love and a commitment to keeping our ancestral heritage alive amidst changing times,” he remarked.
The presence of the Deputy Minister at the festival also brings new hope for the digitalization of local culture. Helmi encouraged the use of creative content and technology so that Jember’s cultural richness can gain international recognition.
“We hope that the ministry’s support will make local culture more widely known through digital media and technology-based international promotion,” he concluded. (sgt/mzm)
