Cowongan is the Cultural Heritage of Banyumas: Relevance of Rituals as a part of the Value Character Education

Cowongan rituals have existed since a long time ago (the days of ancestors) and need to be preserved today. This study aims to determine the relevance of cowongan ritual as a part of the value of character education Senior High School in Baturaden. Cowongan comes from the word ”cowong” which means that the perok/barongan is used to request the downfall of rain through the cowongan ritual. The problems discussed in this article are related to cowongan background, the values contained in cowongan rituals, and the relevance of these values to character education. The research method used in this study is descriptive qualitative. The researcher collects data through in-depth interviewing, direct observation with passive participation, and documentation. The data analysis technique used to analyze cowongan cultural traditions is a qualitative descriptive technique. The results showed that there was cowongan ritual relevance with the value of character education Senior High School in Baturaden. The values contained in the cowongan tradition are cultural values in the behavior of the cowongan tradition, aesthetic values in the cowongan tradition poetry, aesthetic values in the symbol of cowongan tradition objects, religious values in cowongan tradition lyrics, and social values and religious values of the cowongan tradition of Banyumas Regency positive attitude that can be used as learning for a better life