Anniversary festival in Denpasar jolly

Dicky Christanto , The Jakarta Post , Denpasar | Wed, 02/27/2008 12:08 PM | Bali

A four-day festival commemorating Denpasar's 16th anniversary held by the city administration in Puputan Badung square attracted thousands of people from across the city.

The annual festival, which was held from Feb. 23 to 27, included a banner painting competition, a painting competition for children, a traditional chanting competition, bazaars and an bicycle race for couples.

I Wayan Kuat, who came to the festival with his family, said he was pleased with the event as it provided entertainment for residents. He said he expected the city administration to continue organizing the festival.

"It is always nice to see people gather and do many useful activities, such as those students who are painting banners with their hearts. Besides, I can buy many daily goods at cheaper prices at the festival's bazaar," he said to The Jakarta Post on Monday afternoon.

Dozens of school students took part in two painting competitions.

The elementary school students painted freely while high school students had to stick to a theme.

"I am here not because I want to be a winner but merely because I like to paint," said student Bhisma Putera.

Besides receiving trophies and cash prizes, the winning five banners will be displayed at city administration events throughout the year.

Another favorite spot at the festival was the food bazaar a few dozen meters from the site of the painting competitions. Dozens of people crowded the place in search of their favorite menus.

Sagung Yuli, who supervised the food bazaar, said the festival was aimed at not only providing space for residents to express their artistic ideas but also to promote the city's small- and medium-size enterprises.

" That is why we didn't charge any fee of the entrepreneurs who participate in the food bazaar," he told the Post.

Dwidya Arnistia, one of the food sellers, praised the promotion efforts of the city administration, saying that it had worked well for her stall.

She said she could sell more freshwater snail satay at the event than she would not a normal day.

"We managed to sell around 100 kg of freshwater snail satay today alone, a far greater amount compared to the around 50 kilos we usually manage to sell on a normal day," she said.

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