TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Javanese community gathering in Batam breaks MURI records
The event broke two MURI records for the largest number of participants and the highest number of art performances in an event.
Change Size
Several students from Tulungagung, East Java, take part in a kendang reog performance.
(The Jakarta Post/Aman Rochman)
A
round 150,000 people came to Dataran Engku Putri, Batam Center on August 27 to attend the ninth Paguyuban Among Wargo Jowo (Punggowo), a gathering event of the Javanese community in Riau Islands.
Highlighting the theme Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), the event broke two MURI records for the largest number of participants and the highest number of art performances in an event.
“At least 68 art groups took part in this event, they performed several traditional dances from Java and Sumatra such as kuda kepang, reog, rontek, jathilan, topeng ireng, tayub, kerawitan and barongsai. Other performers include Didi Kempot, Cak Sodik and dangdut singers from Jakarta and Batam,” said Ki Lurah Punggowo Dr HM Soerya Respationo SH MH.
Read also: Whale sharks draw tourists to Nabire
MURI also gave four other awards to other communities which are Jogoboyo and Punggowo Mudo for the largest number of participants for a gathering event category, Punggowo Art and Culture Department and Saraswati Wanitomo Punggowo Community for the highest number of art performances in an event category.
Punggowo is a social platform for more than 100 Javanese communities and Pujakesuma (Sumatran-born Javanese Sons) in Batam and Riau Islands.
Tourism ministry secretary, Ukus Kuswara who attended the event on behalf of tourism minister Arief Yahya praised this event as a place to hold a silaturahmi [friendly gathering], a cultural part of Indonesian people.
“This is an amazing event, we need to preserve it. Tourism ministry is going to support this event and put it in the Calendar of Events,” said Ukus. (asw)
