TEMPO.CO, Muara Teweh - North Barito District in Central Kalimantan is hosting Dayak Culture Festival on July 23-25 to celebrate its 67th birthday.
“The annual Dayak Culture event is expected to explore, promote, develop and preserve the region’s traditional culture,” North Barito Regent Nadalsyah said today in the opening of the festival in Muara Teweh.
According to Nadalsyah, the Culture Festival adopting the theme ‘Iya Mulik Bengkang Turan’ (literally translated as Never Give Up until You Succeed) is very welcome.
North Barito District boasts diverse ethnic groups, traditions, languages and cultures.
“The pride and love to traditional arts and culture will foster and maintain nationalism based on the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [Unity in Diversity] in the framework of NKRI [the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,” he said.
The event will feature traditional sporting events and art competitions, which include the traditional Dayak dance, local pop songs, karungut song, sepak sawut (fire soccer), balogo, bagasing (spinning tops), menyipet (traditional weapon), mangaruhi (catching fish), basei kambe (canoe paddling) competition, the traditional jukung (rowing), menetek menaweng and photography.
Nine sub-districts: Teweh Tengah, Lahei Barat, Lahei, Teweh Selatan, Teweh Baru, Gunung Timang, Teweh Timur, Gunung Purei and Montallat will participate in the event.
The competitions are expected to produce traditional sports athletes to represent North Barito at Isen Mulang Culture Festival in Kapuas District, Central Kalimantan, in 2018.
ANTARA