A music festival in Yogyakarta yesterday sought to instill a love of local cultures among members of the Faith Formation for Children and the Faith Formation for Teenagers youth groups.

More than 300 young people from eight parish choirs took part in the festival held at St. Michael’s Church.

Each parish choir consisting of 30-45 children had to sing two traditional songs.

“We [parish priests] wanted to encourage and invite people, especially the young, to develop a love for Javanese cultures,” Father Gregorius Suprayitno from Christ the King Church in Baciro said.

He said a good way to do this was by promoting tembang Jawa (Javanese traditional songs) and gendhing (Javanese music) with both religious and secular messages among the young.

The event also aimed to introduce inculturation to children and teenagers.

“For Javanese people, gendhing and tembang Jawa can help create a soothing atmosphere. Javanese cultures, especially in songs and music, can be used by to praise the Lord,” he continued.

Dericius Suharto, one of the organizers, said he hoped the festival “would act as a platform where young people could meet others from different parishes and get to know each other so that they can grow together in brotherhood.”

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