Sleman (MAN 3 Sleman) – Leading up to the Ramadan break, the atmosphere at the PPMU (Muntasyirul Ulum Islamic Boarding School) campus always becomes livelier than usual. There is one particular event that serves as a hallmark indicating that the boarding school’s routine is about to enter a hiatus: Murafest (Muntasyirul Ulum Ramadan Festival). This year, the student festival returned for its sixth edition, Murafest #6. For the students, this is more than just an annual activity; it is a highly anticipated moment marking the conclusion of the Ramadan series at the dormitory.
Murafest is often described as the crowning stage for students before the Ramadan activities officially close. After a full month of worship, Islamic studies, and the disciplined life of a pesantren, Murafest provides a space to showcase a different side of student life: creativity, collaboration, and the spirit of togetherness that has grown behind their daily activities.
This year, Murafest carried the theme: “Innovation of Islamic Turats as a Lantern for the Progress of the Times.” This theme encouraged students to view the treasures of Islamic turats (classical heritage) not merely as relics of the past, but as a source of inspiration that can be continually developed amidst modern advancements.
Murafest #6 also introduced something different compared to previous years. For the first time, the PPMU committee collaborated with the DEWA organization within the madrasah. This collaboration gave birth to a new format featuring external inter-class competitions involving students at the madrasah level. Meanwhile, internal competitions were still held specifically for PPMY boarding students to ensure the tradition of inter-student competition remained intact.
The highlight of Murafest #6 was held on Saturday night (March 14, 2026). The series of events began with a religious lecture (pengajian) delivered by Ustadz Ransi Al Indragiri. In his sermon, he emphasized the importance of the younger generation’s courage to develop turats in the midst of modern progress. “The heritage of Islamic knowledge is not enough to simply be studied; it needs to be processed and developed so that it remains relevant to the needs of today’s society,” he remarked.
Following the lecture, the program continued with a communal fast-breaking (buka bersama). The committee, supervisors, mudir (director), and invited guests broke their fast separately from the students, while the students enjoyed their meal within the dormitory grounds with their peers.
As evening fell, following the congregational Tarawih prayers, the festivities continued with “Exhibition Night,” the most vibrant part of Murafest. The opening performance featured the appearance of Aladdin, Genie, and Jasmine mascots, which immediately drew cheers from the audience.
Afterward, the stage was filled with various performances from each dormitory complex. The students showcased their creativity through diverse shows they had prepared beforehand. The climax of the evening saw the announcement of the competition winners. The peak night of Murafest #6 finally concluded with a fireworks display that lit up the night sky, marking the end of the entire series of activities.
Murafest #6 has officially come to an end—a simple celebration that served as a space for students to close their Ramadan journey with togetherness and creativity. See you at Murafest #7 next year. (tsa)
Kontributor: Tsaqifa Aulya
