TEMPO.CO, Surakarta - Surakarta is set to host the 'gethek' (a traditional raft) festival scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 9, 2014. Around 31 gethek will live up the event that takes place in Bengawan Solo.
Chief of Surakarta Culture and Tourism Department Eny Tyasni Susana, stated that the number of participants increased this year. "There were only 24 participants last year," she said.
The participants will sail down Bengawan Solo river for three kilometers. Eny added that the event is an attempt to preserve culture and history. "Gethek in Bengawan Solo is a classic means of transportation," she said.
The festival is also an attempt to present new tourism potential. "The song 'Bengawan Solo' by Gesang introduces the river to international forum," Eny mentioned. Therefore, plenty of foreign tourists are keen to enjoy sailing down the longest river in Java Island.
AHMAD RAFIQ