Soegijapranata Catholic University (SCU), along with 1,500 institutions and communities representing diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, enlivened the 2026 Semarang Interfaith Cultural Arts Carnival. Held on Sunday, April 26, 2026, the event stretched from Semarang City Hall to Lapangan Pancasila in Simpang Lima. It was initiated by the Semarang City branch of the Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) in collaboration with the City Government.
This festival was lively and enthusiastically welcomed by the public. Thousands of people packed the entire route from the afternoon to watch a diverse range of cultural arts performances, including Ogoh-ogoh, lion dance (barongsai), rebana, and other traditional arts. This event serves as an annual entertainment that the community eagerly anticipates.
The recent spring festivities highlighted strong community participation, such as the vibrant cross-faith event held at Semarang City Hall, which celebrated harmony and cultural diversity.
The Mayor of Semarang, Dr. Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti, S.S., M.M., had the opportunity to personally open the carnival. In her opening remarks, she emphasized that the universal values of various cultures and religions were the core themes highlighted in the carnival. “The values of self-reflection and maintaining balance in life are relevant to all religions and community groups. This serves as a real portrait of diversity living side by side, becoming a shared commitment to nurture harmony amidst the diversity of society,” she said.
The carnival’s vibrancy was amplified by ogoh-ogoh (giant effigies) from regions like Semarang, Kendal, and Jepara, alongside participation from various faiths, including Islam, Catholicism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Diverse arts were showcased, creating a cultural harmony that reinforces Semarang’s identity as a highly tolerant city, ranking in the top three nationally in the 2025 Tolerant City Index.
“SCU’s involvement in this carnival demonstrates the university’s commitment to supporting the values of diversity, tolerance, and togetherness. Accordingly, the students’ active participation also represents the campus’s creativity and cultural identity.”
This was stated by the Head of the SCU Student Promotion and Recruitment Unit, Justinus Robby Khrisna Pramudya. “As part of Semarang, SCU’s involvement through its students in this carnival is a concrete manifestation of the campus’s commitment to upholding the values of diversity, tolerance, and togetherness in society. Specifically, while also introducing the mascot of Mgr. Albertus Soegijapranata and mascots from several faculties, SCU highlights the spirit of ‘Joyful Campus, Joyful Future’ as a reflection of a positive, enthusiastic, and future-oriented learning environment,” he said after the carnival concluded.
