EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, PONOROGO – The opening of the 2026 Masa Taaruf Mahasiswa Baru (Mastamaru), or new student orientation, at Muhammadiyah University of Ponorogo (UMPO) on Tuesday (8/9) was infused with the distinctive cultural traditions, particularly Reog and Angklung.
The cultural atmosphere was not limited to East Java’s Reog Ponorogo performers. UMPO Rector Rido Kurnianto and vice rectors also took part in the opening, beating a traditional drum, and playing the angklung.
A performance by Reog Simo Budi Utomo helped enliven the welcome for new students gathered at UMPO’s Expotorium. The performers presented a traditional art form that has become one of Ponorogo’s cultural identities.
UMPO’s Rector Rido Kurnianto welcomed the university’s new students.
“Welcome, my outstanding students. Welcome to The Reog University,” Rido said.
He shared a philosophy about the journey toward success. He compared it to the moon’s gradual transformation from a crescent into a full moon. Big dreams, he said, must be built through small steps taken consistently and with good intentions.
“Start with small things. Start with good things, and keep moving forward. InsyaAllah, my students will become great and successful people who contribute to the nation, the country, and the Muslim community as it moves toward progress,” he said.
The Rythm of Unity
The next agenda was the symbolic opening of Mastamaru 2026, marked by the rector and vice rectors beating traditional drums and playing the angklung.
The drumbeat symbolized a rhythm that brings people’s determination together. It also represented the pulse of enthusiasm and the harmony of movement among the university community.
The angklung, meanwhile, was played collectively to represent togetherness, mutual cooperation, and harmony. A single instrument, the philosophy suggests, has limited meaning without synergy and cooperation with others.
The appearance of Reog at the opening of Mastamaru 2026 was more than entertainment. It also provided new students with an introduction to local culture.
The presence of Reog Simo Budi Utomo added a distinctive character to the welcome while introducing Ponorogo’s cultural heritage to students arriving from different parts of Indonesia.
