TEMPO.CO, Solo - More than three-kilometer long of Jl. Slamet Riyadi Solo became a catwalk on Saturday June 29. As many as 150 participants in batik costumes were swaying to show off their costumes.

The sixth Solo Batik carnival carried a major 'Earth to Earth' theme and divided the costumes into four categories: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire.

The fire category is dominated by red-colored costumes. The participants decorate their outfits with accessories portraying the flame. They also painted the faces to look fierce even though a smile always drew on their lips whenever the spectators took snapshots.

Meanwhile the sky blue-colored costumes were worn by the participants in Air category. Some costumes are decorated with white and round wings to portray the cloud. They also put softer make-up data-styles.

The costumes in Water category is slightly difficult to be distinguished from the sky costumes. The water character was created in the form of wings in water-drop shapes.

The typical color of Batik itself mostly seen on the earth category. The participants wore costumes dominated with dark colors. The dark-colored batik is a typical of Solo batik and often called 'Batik Soga'.The colorful costumes were designed and made by the participants in less than three months. "It took fifteen workshops to make the costumes suitable for the theme," said Solo Batik Carnival chairman, Ichwan Hidayat.

Unfortunately, people's enthusiasms were drastically decreasing compared to the previous five carnivals. Some people said this event to have lacked promotions. One of the Surakarta Tourism Promotion Board member Bambang Ary said Solo Batik Carnival has actually been one of Solo icons. "Unfortunately it was not a maximum preparation," Bambang said.

AHMAD RAFIQ