Boat festival to promote Bengawan Solo

SURAKARTA: The city is to host Gunungan Charity Boat Race Festival on Feb. 19, 2012, in its bid to help promote the renowned Bengawan Solo River and create awareness about the importance of caring for the environment.

“The condition of Bengawan Solo today is really deplorable. We are collecting donations through this event,” festival organizing committee secretary Sri Mulyono said on Monday.

Held for the second time this year, the festival is expected to attract foreign participants from Korea, China, Canada and the US. Last year’s event featured 34 participants.

The festival will be held along the Bengawan Solo River, starting from Ngepung village in Pasar Kliwon subdistrict to the Jurug Bridge, Surakarta, covering a length of some 4.5 kilometers. Canoes will be used for the race.

According to the festival’s initiator, the foundation’s advisor, Michael Micklem, said funds collected from the event will be donated to the Gunungan Orphanage.