PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The West Java Provincial Government (Pemprov) has officially designated May 18th as Tatar Sunda Day. This commemoration marks a milestone in the revival of the identity and character of West Javanese citizens.

History researcher and Lecturer at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Padjadjaran University (Unpad), Nina Herlina, said that the establishment of Tatar Sunda Day on May 18 refers to the event where the name of the Tarumanegara Kingdom was changed to the Sunda Kingdom by Maharaja Trarusbawa on May 18, 669 AD.

The event was written in the Pustaka Rajyarajya i Bhumi Nusantana and Chinese Stories from the Tang Dynasty.

"By considering several sources, it can be concluded that the beginning of the founding of the Sunda Kingdom was the beginning of the birth of the Tatar Sunda on May 18, 669 AD so that it can be designated as Tatar Sunda Day," said Nina during a media conference at Gedung Sate, Friday (1/5/2026).

The establishment of Tatar Sunda Day has been formalized in the Regulation of the Governor of West Java Number 13 of 2026 concerning the Implementation of Tatar Sunda Day.

However, Nina said, Sundanese Tatar Day is not intended to commemorate the founding of the Sunda Kingdom, but rather to encourage people to continue to keep Sundanese culture alive in their respective regions.

Unpad Faculty of Law lecturer Hernadi Affandi added that this commemoration is a milestone in the revival of the identity and character of West Java residents.
He stated that the commemoration of Sundanese Tatar Day is different from the Anniversary of West Java Province every August 19.

"The commemoration of West Java Province's anniversary is more of a state administrative event, while Sundanese Heritage Day focuses more on strengthening cultural and historical roots," Hernadi said.

The existence of the Tatar Sunda Anniversary complements the existence of the West Java Provincial Anniversary. The existence of these two anniversaries should not be considered in conflict, as they do not interfere with or negate each other.

The presence of the Tatar Sunda Anniversary will actually strengthen the existence of the West Java Province Anniversary because it highlights the existence and richness of Sundanese culture that must be preserved.