Seputarkarawang.com - Karawang, The excitement of the Crown Binokasih Carnival which filled the main streets of Karawang on Saturday night (9/5) indeed became an extraordinary mass magnet. However, behind the noisy welcome from the residents, a logical discourse emerged regarding the urgency of the event. To what extent is this annual ceremonial agenda able to have a concrete historical educational impact on society, beyond just a temporary visual spectacle?The mobilization of enormous resources, from tight security by the authorities to the mobilization of various communities, is considered by some public policy observers to need to be balanced with the depth of educational content. Without a strong historical narrative that is easily accessible to roadside spectators, the 8 kilogram gold crown risks being seen as just another valuable antique. The deep philosophical values of Pajajaran's leadership are in danger of being lost in the euphoria of the masses.Logical criticism is starting to emerge regarding sustainability after this event which costs quite a lot of operational costs. The public began to question whether after this carnival was finished, there would be a significant increase in cultural literacy or improvements to museum facilities and historical sites in Karawang. It would be a shame if the large regional budget was only used up for short-lived celebrations or one-off events, while many local historical sites still receive minimal attention.Febry Ramadhan, Chair of the Karawang Islamic Student Federation (FMI), highlighted the efficiency aspect in regional cultural preservation strategies in the modern era. According to him, in the midst of incessant digital transformation, introducing history to the younger generation should not only depend on traditional and conventional physical parades. A breakthrough is needed that is more relevant to people's lifestyles today so that the historical message continues to reach its destination. "Logically, if the goal is education, then there must be an output that is measurable and can be enjoyed in the long term," said Febry Ramadhan in his evaluation notes. He questioned the absence of a history digitization platform that residents could access independently after this event was over. If it's just a street parade, then after the group passes, people tend to go home without bringing new knowledge about the glories of past civilizations.
Apart from that, the philosophy of "Binokasih", which etymologically means a leader's love for his people, should be reflected in the synchronization of events with the urgent needs of the people of Karawang. Utilization of public facilities and closure of main routes for large-scale cultural events must be ensured to truly provide added social value. This is important so that the operational costs incurred are commensurate with the intellectual benefits received by the public.The Karawang Regency Government has indeed succeeded in creating a euphoric momentum, but the real challenge is how to keep the spirit of "Silih Asah, Silih Asih, and Silih Asuh" alive. These noble values should not only become normative quotations in officials' ceremonial speeches. Real implementation is actually more needed in the protection and conservation of local cultural sites which are currently in danger of extinction.The huge enthusiasm of residents is actually extraordinary social capital for regional progress if managed properly. However, this capital must be directed so that it is not just a statistical figure for visits or crowd numbers. This potential should be the basis of a more organic and educative cultural preservation movement, starting from elementary school level to creative communities throughout the Karawang region.Criticism of this carnival model is actually a constructive encouragement for the Regional Government to start innovating in packaging local historical content. Integrating interactive technology, such as augmented reality or digital tour guides, is considered much more effective in instilling historical values in Gen Z. This approach is considered more capable in building young people's emotional closeness to national identity than just a motorcade on the highway.In the end, the implementation of the Binokasih Crown Carnival must be evaluated totally so that it does not become a routine annual activity that loses substance. The true success of a cultural event is when every resident who returns from the event location feels more familiar with the identity of their ancestors. The essence of cultural preservation lies in transforming knowledge into people's hearts, not just adding to the collection of photos on their cellphone memory.
