East Nusa Tenggara festival to promote traditional sarongs

A sarong and music festival will be held on March 2 in Kupang city, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Initiated by NTT National Handicraft Committee head Julie Sutrisno Laiskodat, the event will feature tenun ikat (woven fabric) made by women weavers from Flores, Sumba and Timor islands.

"We aim to boost local economies by empowering weavers and increasing the sense of pride young people and millennials have toward the fabric," said Julie in a statement as quoted by kompas.com.

The festival will be held during a car-free day event between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and will feature around 10,000 participants, including 1,800 students, who will perform regional dances like gawi, dolo-dolo jaiand tebe.

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"What's unique about this event is the participants are required to don white shirts and NTT's signature sarongs," added Julie, who is the wife of NTT Governor Victor Laiskodat.

In addition to music and dances, the festival will also feature the region's signature dishes. 

Julie expressed hope the event could be held annually to attract tourists to the province.

"We will also support the designation of National Sarong Day, as sarongs are a part of our heritage that must be preserved, and like batik should be considered national attire."

In Jakarta, the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry will also hold the Indonesia Sarong Festival on March 3 at the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex. (kes)