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View all search resultsJakarta kicks off 485th anniversary celebrations
Fudge fun: JP/Corry ElydaWomen in traditional Betawi clothing demonstrate old-fashioned dodol (traditional sweet) making at Gebyar Setu Babakan on Sunday in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta
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span class="caption" style="width: 498px;">Fudge fun:
JP/Corry Elyda
Women in traditional Betawi clothing demonstrate old-fashioned dodol (traditional sweet) making at Gebyar Setu Babakan on Sunday in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta. The festival was held to celebrate Jakarta’s 485th anniversary, which falls on June 22.
The Jakarta administration officially started on Sunday a string of events in the city’s five municipalities and the Thousands Islands regency to celebrate the city’s 485th anniversary, which falls on June 22.
In South Jakarta, the Jakarta Tourism Agency held “Gebyar Setu Babakan”, a festival of native Jakartan Betawi culture, at the Betawi village Setu Babakan in Jagakarsa. The event included competitions in traditional martial art, dances, dodol (traditional sweet) making and bicycle decorating as well as a discussion on Betawi culture and a cooking demonstration.
Since 2000, the city administration has been converting Setu Babakan, which is also a reservoir, into a Betawi culture preservation area where Betawi art groups and cultural events are centered.
Event coordinator Ida Subaidah said 5,000 visitors were targeted for the one-day event. “We will hold another cultural event here on June 14-17 with more festivities.”
The administration is spending around Rp 2 billion (US$211,461) on events from May 27 to June 24. The events include the Fashion and Food Festival, the Flower and Ornamental Plants Exhibition, the Jakarta International Dance Festival, the National Monument Festival, the Betawi Culture Festival, the Pasar Baru Festival, the Jakarta Flora exhibition and the iconic Jakarta Fair.
Visitors at Setu Babakan appeared pleased with the event and flocked to three stages built along the lake.
Sri Mulyana, 26, said Setu Babakan was her family’s favorite picnic destination. “I love visiting this place. The environment is good and I also have a chance to teach my kid about Betawi culture,” she said, adding that it was her third visit.
One of the members of the traditional Betawi ensemble, the Marawis group from SMAN 46 state high school, Aditya Rizqy Ramadhan, 15, voiced hope that Jakarta would get better with age. “Classical problems like traffic jams, floods and pollution could be reduced,” he said. (JP/cor)
