Starting from a craftsman who has a bamboo handicraft business with a woven method, eventually became an inspiration for residents who are around him. Brajan Village eventually became one of the producers of bamboo crafts from Yogyakarta. At present there are estimated to be 100 bamboo craftsmen in this tourist village.
Brajan village in Yogyakarta is a tourist destination because it is famous for its bamboo handicraft. Even tourists or visitors not only buy handicraft products on display, they also make requests according to the shape they want to be made from woven bamboo. Even so, the craftsmen still make this craft through the home industry, not a bamboo woven factory.
History
At first glance, Brajan Village looks like any other village in Jogja. Having the beauty of a rural atmosphere, nature that is still sustainable, calm and comfortable. Residents seen doing activities in the rice fields. However, who would have thought, this village is now one of the villages producing bamboo woven crafts in Yogyakarta.
Initially, the main livelihood of the villagers was agriculture. They made this woven bamboo handicraft as their own necessities such as baskets, Wakul and Pincuk. The village began to develop into a handicraft center in 1991 when one of the craftsmen made items such as lamp covers, tissue holders and other similar items.
The name Brajan itself is taken from the name of one of the ascetics who taught how to make products from bamboo mats, Kyai Braja. At that time the aim was to provide items needed for traditional ceremonies made from woven bamboo. Gradually, this bamboo matting continues to be developed by residents until it can become more than 100 types of interesting products.
Location
Brajan Tourism Village is a bamboo handicraft center located in Sendang Agung village, Minggir District, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, 20 Km west of the city of Yogyakarta.
To go to this village, tourists can travel from Tugu Yogyakarta, to the west, to Jalan Godean, to the Kalibawang direction. 200 m before the terminal pingitan, found the entrance to the north, into the road. Until the junction (approximately 500 meters) then turn right. Follow the road for about 2 km.
Every month or during the holiday season, this village gets visits from tourists. The visitors aren’t even just local tourists, but also foreign tourists. At present there has been a kind of management so that every craftsman gets evenly visited. So that the craftsmen get income evenly.
Activity for Tourist
Arriving in this village, visitors can visit the craftsmen’s showroom to see various creations of their products. But not only that, they can also learn how to weave bamboo into handicraft products. Short training is available for tourists who want to learn to make this distinctive craft.
Bamboo woven product
Bamboo is a tropical plant that is found in Indonesia. This kind of grass plant that has strong and tall segmented stems has an important function in three basic human needs. Bamboo can be used to meet various needs of clothing, food, and shelter.
In food, young bamboo (bamboo shoots) can be used as a delicious vegetable base. Bamboo can also be used in making residential homes, so that it can support human life in terms of boards. In addition, bamboo can also be processed (by weaving) into various containers, decorations, and various other clothing needs.
Woven bamboo was claimed to be one of the original handicraft products from Indonesia. Bamboo matting is woven made using dried or old bamboo. From this woven bamboo made various useful items. Most are household items.
Bamboo that is used as raw material for wicker is obtained by craftsmen from the local market. Usually, they buy in a form that is ready to be woven. But if the supply is empty, the craftsmen buy bamboo in the form of sticks and then process it to become woven with high-selling value.
This woven bamboo which produces household goods has several advantages. Today, most items are made of plastic or breakable items like glass or ceramic. Woven bamboo tends to be lighter and not easily damaged. When it is no longer in use, this woven bamboo can easily be destroyed, not causing environmental pollution.
In Indonesia, household items made of woven bamboo are trays, bags, hats, baskets, baskets, room decoration and various other items. At present, these items are not widely circulated, except at handicraft centers such as Brajan Village in Jogja. So some of the items made from woven bamboo have a high price.
There he is various information related to Brajan Village and woven bamboo. Hopefully it can be an inspiration for all readers.