PORTALJABAR, DISTRICT. GARUT - The spatial planning of Dukuh Village, Ciroyom Village, Cikelet District, Garut Regency, has been designated as one of the 36 Intangible Cultural Heritages (WBTb) of West Java in 2024 by the West Java Provincial Government.

This determination was announced by the Head of the West Java Province Tourism and Culture Service, Benny Bachtiar, together with the WBTb West Java Expert Team, Tuesday (20/2/2024).

Head of the Garut Regency Tourism and Culture Service (Disparbud), Luna Aviantrini, admitted that he was happy and ready to support the Dukuh Village Spatial Planning to become a National WBTb.

He explained that in 2023 the Dukuh Village Spatial Planning would be presented through an application called Node Daya Jabar belonging to the West Java Provincial Government. In the application, include several necessary things starting from descriptions, photos, videos, official studies, scientific studies, and so on.

Apart from the Dukuh Village Spatial Planning, added Luna, he also applied for a typical Garut food, namely Endog Lewo, as WBTb. However, due to the lack of existing studies and masters, it cannot be continued.

According to Luna, Kampung Dukuh consists of two parts; Outer Hamlet and Inner Hamlet. The traditional house in the Kampung Dukuh Dalam area, which is the center of tradition and where the kuncen house is located, previously numbered 40 units, including mosque buildings, traditional halls, madrassas, bumi alit, and Cebor Opatpuluh bathing places.

"Kuncen's (Mama Uluk) house itself is bigger than other residents' houses, because Kuncen usually receives guests," said Luna, Saturday (24/02/2024).

Luna revealed that apart from Dukuh Dalam, Dukuh Luar and Tanah Keramat, in the Kampung Dukuh Spatial Plan there are also several plots of land with unclear area details called awisan. Awisan means reserve, and the meaning of awisan is found in the uga or ancestral testament which reads "In that area people will come from Sumedang, Bengkelung, Arab, Sukapura and from Dukuh Village itself."

The shape of the traditional house of Kampung Dukuh itself is a house on stilts with a thatched roof with the roof running from east to west, the doors of the house are on both east and west sides, the walls are still made of cubicles (woven bamboo) or planks, the doors and windows and the floor are made of planks wood, while at night kerosene lamps are used.

According to him, the spatial planning of Kampung Dukuh needs to be made WBTb because the number, shape, materials, location and so on of the buildings in Kampung Dukuh, apparently have been determined long ago and have never changed.

"What's unique is that it turns out that these rules are not just for beauty, but have a deep meaning that shows how advanced our ancestors were," he said.

With the designation of the Dukuh Village Spatial Plan as WBTb, he hopes that the number of Garut Regency Cultural Advancement Objects (OPK) will be even greater which can be appointed as Provincial and National WBTb, because up to now only 238 OPK have been recorded in the Garut Regency Tourism and Culture Office.

"We also hope that the WBTb that has been determined by the Province and National will receive more attention," he said.

So far, in Garut Regency there are around 12 WBTb, with details of 7 national WBTb and 5 others being provincial WBTb. Here's the list:

National WBTb
1. Ngalungsur Geni
2. Badeng
3. Seba Kabuyutan Ciburuy Ceremony
4. Spatial Planning of Kampung Pulo
5. Surak Ibra
6. Cigawiran
7. Gondang Buhun

WBTb Province
1. Nyaneut
2. Garutan Batik
3. Burayot
4. Dodol
5. Ngawuwuh. (rdp*)