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Batam hosts Javanese community gathering
They attended the event in traditional Javanese outfit with blangkon, iket, beskap and keris.
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Abdi dalem in traditional Javanese costume at Kraton Sultan Palace, Yogyakarta. (Shutterstock.com/Lano Lan)
M
embers of Paguyuban Wargo Jowo, also known as Punggowo, arrived in Dataran Engku Putri, Batam Center, Aug. 27 for a gathering event of the Javanese community in Riau Islands. They attended the event in traditional Javanese outfit with blangkon, iket, beskap and keris.
The opening of the Javanese community gathering was marked with a Melayu welcoming dance and presenting of betel leaves to tourism ministry secretary Ukus Kuswara and Riau Islands governor Nurdin Basirun. The event was a gathering of those who had spent their childhood in Central Java, East Java and Yogyakarta.
Read also: 646 regional languages identified so far: Ministry
The annual event was first held in 2004, with the aim to preserve the Javanese tradition. This year, the main theme of the event is Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).
Punggowo itself is a social platform for more than 100 Javanese communities and Pujakesuma (Sumatran-born Javanese Sons) in Batam and Riau Islands. The platform broke two MURI records for the largest number of participants for a halal-bihalal event with 140,000 attendees and the highest number of art performances in an event.
The gathering event entertained guests with performances from 68 local art groups and a culinary bazaar. Also featured was a Fashion Carnival themed Archipelago Carnival, Artwear Carnival and Herowear Carnival. Other performances include Gambyong dance, Topeng Ireng, Barong, Gedrug Buto dance and Reog Ponorogo.
Last year, Punggowo managed to attract 137,000 people and had performances from 132 groups that ended up breaking a MURI record. This year, the target was to attract 150,000 visitors including Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKI) from Singapore and Malaysia. (asw)
