Visiting Udjo’s House of Angklung

Popular Sri Lankan singer Umaria Sinhawansa and a group of journalists on an official visit to Indonesia visited Udjo's House of Angklung, where Sundanese art and culture thrive and gain respect worldwide.

Around 500 students are studying at the house, where a colourful cultural dance was organized. Umaria, a special guest at the event, entertained the attendees.

Located in the bustling eastern part of Bandung, Udjo's House of Angklung attempts to manifest the beautiful harmony of vibrating bamboos that echo from this simple amphitheater to the other side of the world. It spreads the values of simplicity, cooperation, unity, and togetherness, while maintaining the mutual relationship between humans and the environment.

Established in 1966 by the late Udjo Ngalagena (1929-2001) and his wife, the late Uum Sumiyati, Saung Angklung Udjo was built to conserve West Java’s Sundanese traditional art and culture. Udjo Ngalagena's passion and principles made Udjo's House of Angklung a place where Sundanese art and culture thrive and gain proper respect worldwide. His efforts to introduce and promote angklung were rewarded when UNESCO inscribed Angklung in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List in November 2010.

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Colombo, Sri Lanka, organized the visit with singer Umaria and the journalists to Indonesia from June 19th–27th, 2024, to promote tourism between the two countries. Pix by Darshana Sanjeewa