Dogs, foreigners and devils at the Kemang Festival<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Dozens of \"devils\" walked slowly among the crowd that thronged
\nthe Kemang Festival in South Jakarta on Saturday.<\/p>\n
However, nobody was scared as they were actually just ordinary
\nhuman beings with head accessories featuring red devil horns.<\/p>\n
The Rp 5,000-a-piece accessories were probably the best
\nselling items in the one-day festival, which was put on by the
\ncity administration for the second time.<\/p>\n
The festival is part of the month-long celebrations to
\ncommemorate the city's 475th anniversary that actually falls on
\nJune 22.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of stalls were erected on the road, which was blocked
\nfrom motorists. Most of the sellers are people who run businesses
\nin Kemang.<\/p>\n
Kemang, once a place where native Jakartans resided, is
\ncurrently known as a home to many expatriates here. It also known
\nas a popular entertainment spot with lots of galleries,
\nrestaurants, bars, boutiques and antique shops.<\/p>\n
The stalls mostly displayed clothes, handicrafts and
\npaintings. Some visitors, particularly expatriates, stopped by
\nstalls offering traditional outfits as there was a woman who
\ndemonstrating the traditional batik painting.<\/p>\n
Visitors could also enjoy the alternative music played by a
\nband, traditional dances and even a lion dance.<\/p>\n
A parade of children wearing traditional costumes was held in
\nthe morning. Their parents and relatives, who accompanied them,
\ntook pictures.<\/p>\n
Those who were hungry could visit several food stalls which
\noffered several kinds of mouthwatering meals at affordable
\nprices.<\/p>\n
Here, visitors could enjoy the traditional native Jakartan
\nfood such as kerak telor (baked rice with egg and several
\ntraditional ingredients), which is rarely found in restaurants.<\/p>\n
The visitors mostly came in groups with their families and
\nfriends. Dozens of young couples brought their children to enjoy
\nthe festivities, and some pushed baby carriages.<\/p>\n
Several foreigners even took their dogs to enjoy the festival
\ntogether.<\/p>\n
\"It's a nice event for families. This event should not be made
\nonly to commemorate the city's anniversary. The administration
\nshould make a similar event like this more often as there are not
\nmany places for families to hang out together here,\" said Will
\nDunn, a Briton.<\/p>\n
Another visitor, ibu Teta, who brought her three
\ngrandchildren, agreed that the festival was a nice place for
\nfamily.<\/p>\n
\"It's safe for my grandchildren to walk and run around here
\nwhile I could do some window shopping,\" she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dogs-foreigners-and-devils-at-the-kemang-festival-1447893297",
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