Thousands of Islamic students (santri) from across Indonesia gathered at the Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School (Pondok Pesantren Tebuireng) in Jombang, East Java, to attend the official 2026 Hari Santri (National Santri Day) Ceremony. The annual national event, organized by the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), served as an important momentum to strengthen national values, Islamic traditions, and the synergy between students and law enforcement officers in maintaining public order.
Among the participating delegations, a contingent from KH Samsudin Islamic Boarding School Ponorogo actively participated throughout the series of events. The group from Ponorogo was directly accompanied by representatives of the management and student leaders, including Iwan Mahendra, Dodik Nurcahyo, and M. Farid H.
In addition to attending the formal ceremony, students from KH Samsudin Islamic Boarding School also took the opportunity to take joint photographs with officers from the Indonesian National Police (Polri) who were on duty securing the event at Tebuireng. This moment of togetherness reflected a harmonious and cooperative relationship between Islamic educational institutions and the police force.
1. 2026 Hari Santri Ceremony at Tebuireng Boarding School
The 2026 National Santri Day commemoration, held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, carried the main theme "Strengthening the Roots of Tradition, Preserving National Unity". The selection of Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School as the central venue holds significant historical value, honoring the struggle of the founding scholars of Nahdlatul Ulama in defending Indonesia's independence.
The ceremony was attended by the leadership of PBNU, including PBNU Secretary General H. Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul). In his address, Gus Ipul emphasized the importance of students maintaining discipline, deepening their religious knowledge, and remaining adaptable to modern developments while staying rooted in religious traditions.
Participants—comprising students, boarding school administrators, Banser members, and invited guests—followed the procession orderly from the early morning. The event proceeded smoothly and safely thanks to joint security efforts by local police officers, the Indonesian Military (TNI), and internal organizational security units.
2. The Role of the KH Samsudin Ponorogo Delegation
Pondok Pesantren KH Samsudin Ponorogo consistently supports community and national programs. The delegation's participation in this national event in Jombang demonstrates a concrete commitment to fostering camaraderie among Islamic boarding schools and reinforcing national insight among students.
A representative of the Ponorogo contingent, Iwan Mahendra, stated that participating in the gathering was a valuable experience for the students. "Besides building relationships with scholars and students from other regions, we experienced firsthand the sense of unity and discipline at a national-scale event," Iwan expressed at the location.
Echoing Iwan's sentiments, Dodik Nurcahyo added that this participation is expected to motivate students in Ponorogo to contribute more actively to community activities. Meanwhile, M. Farid H highlighted the importance of maintaining good relations with all community elements and security forces.
3. Synergy Between Santri and the Police Force
The presence of the Indonesian National Police at the location served not only for traffic management and physical security, but also as a form of humanistic community outreach.
The group photo session featuring students from KH Samsudin Islamic Boarding School alongside police officers symbolized positive collaboration. Harmony between scholars, students, and the police is considered a key factor in maintaining a peaceful and conducive public security environment, particularly in East Java.
The police expressed appreciation for the discipline and orderliness demonstrated by the students during the event. This solid cooperation is expected to continue in various community initiatives in the future.
4. Conclusion
The participation of KH Samsudin Islamic Boarding School Ponorogo in the 2026 Hari Santri Ceremony at Tebuireng Jombang went smoothly and solemnly. Through the presence of young representatives such as Iwan Mahendra, Dodik Nurcahyo, and M. Farid H, the boarding school reaffirmed its commitment to national unity and strengthening synergy with the police force
