[National Batik Day] Mega Mendung batik motive from Cirebon depicts the heavy clouds before the rain. The motive also represents the way the ruler of Cirebon Palace leads its people rightfully and peacefully. ☁
Mega Mendung motive plays with 7 gradation of colors and represents patience as a virtue. When working on this motive, even the batik maker should work on it patiently, no rushing, no complaining. ☔
When wearing this batik, remember that the ‘clouds’ should be horizontal, not vertical. ☁
When UNESCO selected Indonesian batik as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, this recognition goes beyond batik as a piece of tangible cloth. �
It also covers how Indonesian batik has different motives serving different purposes in cultural events and ceremonies. It includes how a certain person wears a certain batik motive relevant to the philosophy behind it. ☁
If in the future our batik only becomes a casual commodity and lost its role and meaning in our culture and society, we would lost more than just a UNESCO recognition. We would lost our national heritage as well. �
PS: I choose Mega Mendung motive because I think peace and patience are 2 qualities we need in our country at the moment.
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