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Padang celebrates anniversary with Torch and Telong-Telong Festival
According to history, the lanterns helped the people of Padang in fighting against the Dutch army that colonized Indonesia at that time.
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According to history, the lanterns helped the people of Padang in fighting against the Dutch army that colonized Indonesia at that time. (Shutterstock/File)
P
adang plans to light up the night sky with its annual Torch and Telong-Telong (lanterns) Festival that will be held on August 6 at Panjang Chimpago Field, Padang Beach.
“This is an annual event that celebrates the 348th anniversary of Padang. We hope that this event can entertain the locals and tourists who come to Padang,” said the head of Padang culture and tourism department Medi Iswandi.
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Telong – Telong itself isn’t a just an ordinary festival, there’s a rather heroic story behind it. According to history, the lanterns helped the people of Padang in fighting against the Dutch army that colonized Indonesia at that time.
“Telong-telong was the source of light that fighters used to fight the Dutch in Muaro Padang on August 7, 1669. At that time, the people of Pauh and Kuranji fought against VOC [Dutch East India Company] and occupied their buildings,” Medi told.
“That night, the Dutch didn’t think they were going to get ambushed. They thought the locals were only holding a regular parade. All of the sudden the locals attacked and destroyed their places,” added Medi.
Read also: Colorful portrait of Padang's public transportation
The day of the attack was then set as the birth date of Padang city.
The Torch and Telong-Telong parade will be joined by 11 districts consisting of 104 administrative villages spread all across Padang. The entrance fee for the event is only priced at Rp 5,000 ($ 0.50).
The parade will begin in front of Cimpago Lake in Purus and finish on the Sudirman street. After Maghrib (call for evening prayer), there’ll be a performance of Gandang Tassa as well as fireworks to close the event at 11:00 p.m. (asw)
