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Bamboo stilts festival to return to East Java’s Ledokombo
Hopes for a better future rest on bamboo stilts in Ledokombo district.
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Some children join the 700-meter parade by walking on bamboo stilts at the eigth year of "Egrang" Festival (Sewindu Festival Egrang) in Jember. (JP/Wahyoe Boediwardhana)
T
anoker, a community known for promoting traditional children’s games, is set to bring back the Egrang (bamboo stilts) Festival to Ledokombo district in Jember regency, East Java.
The festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 22, featuring an egrang street performance with the theme "Food for Peace". Returning for the ninth time this year, this egrang festival functions as a folk party that highlights bamboo stilts as an icon of change to encourage children of Ledokombo to achieve a brighter future.
Raised on stilts, the children will dance and parade, accompanied by percussion music. Their moves symbolize their steps into the future.
In conjunction with the festival, Jambore Anak Hebat Cinta Damai (Great Peace-Loving Children’s Jamboree) is also set to take place on Sept. 20 and 21. Activities in this jamboree include Peace Workshop, Tourist Village Children’s Meeting, Healthy Food Campaign for Children by Children and Healthy Food Cooking Class.
Aside from children, adults are also welcome to take part in the festivities. A photo hunting competition will be held during the bamboo stilts parade, as well as video, mural, handicraft making and cooking competitions.
Inaugurated in 2010, many children in Ledokombo are now skillful egrang performers. They represent their hometown in local, national and international competitions and have garnered recognition.
Read also: Bogor Traditional Games Festival seeks to keep youngsters off gadgets
Ledokombo’s Egrang Festival has positioned itself as one of the most anticipated events in East Java every year, especially as prominent figures such as ministers, regents and professors from Indonesia and abroad often attend. (mut)
