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Sumenep celebrates 748th anniversary with Tong Tong Music Parade

The anniversary celebration was slated to run until the end of October.

  (Pesona Indonesia)
Jakarta
Mon, October 30, 2017

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Sumenep celebrates 748th anniversary with Tong Tong Music Parade Traditional musicians play Madurese music in an annual bull race festival in Pamekasan, Madura. (Shutterstock.com/flocu)

Sumenep regency in Madura, East Java, recently held Tong Tong Music Parade on Oct. 27.

Joined by 21 groups in Sumenep, the event was part of the Spectacular Sumenep 2017 that aims to celebrate the 748th anniversary of the regency.

“The participants also come from other places such as Sampang and Pamekasan regencies,” said Sumenep Regent A. Busyro Karim.

Busyro said the anniversary celebration was slated to run until the end of October.

People had been standing on the side of the streets since 7 p.m. to watch the parade, which started on Jl. Urip Sumoharjo and then headed to Jl. Ahmad Yani and ended on Jl. Panglima Jenderal Sudirman around 3 a.m.  

Read also: Sawahlunto Music Festival to return in November

The parade featured a 20-meter golden chariot called Ul Daul and featured 20 musicians performing tong-tong, gamelan, trumpet and hadrah.

Sumenep Tourism, Culture and Sports Agency head Sufiyanto said that tong-tong is a music instrument from Madura that is made of bamboo. It used to be a tool to wake people up during sahur (pre-dawned meal) time.

Since early 90s, the local administration decided to hold a tong-tong competition that was later changed into an annual anniversary parade.

“This is the party of the Sumenep’s people. People always anticipate this event and it serves as a compulsory event for the provincial administration,” said Sufiyanto.

Sumenep is home to Giliyang Island that is said to have the highest level of oxygen. Residents of the island reportedly were blessed with longer life span; there’s even one resident who is 115 years of age. (kes)



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