The Religious and Cross-cultural Studies Master Program (CRCS), Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), officially opened its 25th Anniversary celebration on Tuesday, October 21st 2025.
The opening ceremony, held at the 5th Floor Auditorium of the UGM Graduate School, was attended by one of CRCS UGM’s founders, Prof. Dr. Alwi Shihab; Chief of the CRCS Program, Dr. Samsul Maarif; Head of the Interreligious Studies (IRS) Program, Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir; CRCS faculty members, students, alumni, and invited guests from various partner institutions.
The celebration began symbolically with the striking of the bende (gong) by Prof. Dr. Alwi Shihab, accompanied by Dr. Samsul Maarif and Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir. This symbolic act marked the start of a series of events that embody the spirit of reflection and cross-boundary collaboration.
A special highlight of the opening ceremony was the performance of a birth ritual and prayer by the Sri Tumuwuh Ancestral Religion Community and Mas Agus. The ritual conveyed a deep spiritual and ecological message—reminding participants that birth should not only be understood biologically but also as the awakening of new consciousness toward the environment.
“If we are able to manage waste properly, the tangible result can be artistic creations such as plastic puppets,” the ritual message symbolically stated.
The Dies Natalis celebration carries the overarching theme “Justice, Equality, and Harmony.” In his remarks, CRCS Chief Dr. Samsul Maarif emphasized the program’s crucial role as an academic space consistently promoting the study of religion and culture within the context of Indonesia’s and the world’s diversity.
“CRCS envisions religion as a space where we can collectively pursue justice and equality to achieve a harmonious life for all,” said Dr. Samsul Maarif.
The series of events for the 25th Anniversary included interfaith dialogues, a fellowship dinner, book launches and discussions, various workshops, the CRCS Festival Night, and will conclude with the 7th International Conference and Consolidation for Indigenous Religions (ICIR).
This celebration served as a moment of reflection on CRCS’s long journey and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment in advancing interdisciplinary studies in religion, culture, and society—an ongoing effort to build a world that is more just, equal, and harmonious.
Writer: Asti Rahmaningrum
Editor: Nurlina Sari