404 bonsai in Madiun: a festival that reminds us there are no shortcuts
At the end of July, the grounds of the Pendopo Ronggo Djumeno in Caruban, Madiun Regency, were full of tiny trees. The third Madiun Nyawiji Bonsai Festival ran for eight days, from July 25 to August 1, 2026, and I read the coverage with a smile.
The numbers are impressive for a regency-level festival. There were 404 bonsai entered, made up of 254 in the regular class and 150 in the golden small class. Participants came from Madiun itself and from across East and Central Java. The event wasn't just judging: there was an open public exhibition, sessions on how to shape bonsai, and a market for ornamental plants.
What I liked most were the words of two people there. One visitor, Lulu Humaira, said she was most drawn to mature bonsai, because caring for them takes time, patience, and persistence. The line I wrote down: enjoy the process, because no process is instant. It seems a perfect fit for this hobby, and also for those of us who like arranging terrariums or growing moss slowly.
The committee chair, Yanuar Ristianto, said the festival is not just a contest. In his view, it is a way to introduce the art of bonsai while opening economic opportunities in creative ornamental plants in Madiun Regency. He also hopes the enthusiasm of bonsai fans in the area will come back to life.
For me, news like this is encouraging, because it shows that local bonsai communities are still alive and slowly growing, not only in big cities. I hope this festival becomes a yearly event.
Source: RRI.co.id (Madiun)
The numbers are impressive for a regency-level festival. There were 404 bonsai entered, made up of 254 in the regular class and 150 in the golden small class. Participants came from Madiun itself and from across East and Central Java. The event wasn't just judging: there was an open public exhibition, sessions on how to shape bonsai, and a market for ornamental plants.
What I liked most were the words of two people there. One visitor, Lulu Humaira, said she was most drawn to mature bonsai, because caring for them takes time, patience, and persistence. The line I wrote down: enjoy the process, because no process is instant. It seems a perfect fit for this hobby, and also for those of us who like arranging terrariums or growing moss slowly.
The committee chair, Yanuar Ristianto, said the festival is not just a contest. In his view, it is a way to introduce the art of bonsai while opening economic opportunities in creative ornamental plants in Madiun Regency. He also hopes the enthusiasm of bonsai fans in the area will come back to life.
For me, news like this is encouraging, because it shows that local bonsai communities are still alive and slowly growing, not only in big cities. I hope this festival becomes a yearly event.
Source: RRI.co.id (Madiun)
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