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Annual Bromo Marathon enlivened with festival, jeep competition
The Bromo Marathon this year was accompanied by the Bromo Xtravaganza festival, which included a concert, cultural performances and a jeep competition.
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The Ketipung Tengger's cultural performance prepares participants ahead of the Bromo Marathon held on Sunday at Plataran Bromo Resort in Tosari district, Pasuruan regency, East Java. (JP/Nedi Putra AW)
T
he Pasuruan administration over the weekend held its sixth annual marathon, with luxury resort Plataran Bromo in Ngadiwono village hosting the race this year
In addition to the Bromo Marathon, the resort also held the Bromo Xtravaganza festival to complement the sporting event, which included a concert, cultural performances and a jeep competition.
"We call it marathon plus, because we don't only want to talk about a sporting event but also fun," Plataran Group chief executive officer Yozua Makes said on Saturday.
Yozua said Bromo is known for its sunrise, mountain, crater and the ash dunes surrounding Mount Bromo. In addition to its picturesque nature, Yozua added that the region has more to offer its visitors, such as the local art and culture, especially from the Tengger tribe.
While the main event of the marathon was held on Sunday, festivities had begun on Saturday for participants and residents to enjoy.
Guests could witness and present a variety of art and cultural performances in a different atmosphere, Yozua said, as the event was held in an amphitheater at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters above the sea with an attractive stage setting witnessed by the public at large.
The concert, which was free, featured Surakarta singer Sruti Respati, as well as band Andra and the Backbone.
Read also: Jakpost explores Mount Bromo
Yozua said the resort's presence among the Tengger people meant it must commit to maintaining local culture and wisdom, as well as encourage participation from all communities.
"For example, this time we invited residents who work as jeep tour providers to compete in the jeep competition," he said.
Yozua said he would continue to carry this concept for the marathon event next year, but with a number of differences, whether in the genre of music or art displayed, guest stars and the type of competition held.
Sutiyono, from the organizing committee of the Bromo Marathon, revealed that there were three categories of the competition, namely 10K, 21K and 42K.
"We recorded that 1,320 participants from 31 countries undertook the challenging path through villages around Bromo, so they could get to know more about the culture of the Tengger people and the beauty of Bromo itself," Sutiyono said.
Sutiyono added that in the future the marathon would strive to contribute more in the field of environmental conservation.
"The activity can later be synergized with the communities of environmentalists and local residents," he said. (liz/kes)
