13 children undergo matted-hair ruwatan at DCF 2026 Dieng
More than 2,000 visitors packed the Arjuna Temple Complex, underscoring the ritual as the festival's main draw.
Thirteen children with matted hair underwent a ruwatan ritual during the Dieng Culture Festival 2026 at the Arjuna Temple Complex in Dieng Kulon village, Banjarnegara regency, Central Java, on Saturday. Before their hair was cut, they were paraded from the home of a Dieng customary elder and then took part in a cleansing ceremony led by Banjarnegara Regent Amalia Desiana. The cutting was led by customary elder Mbah Sumanto, and the hair was then cast into Telaga Balai Kambang. In the tradition, each child first submits a request that must be fulfilled, ranging from turkeys and goats to bicycles and laptops. Organizers said the generations-old ritual is the main attraction of the DCF. More than 2,000 tourists crowded the site, while the August 28-30 festival is expected to draw around 30,000 visitors.