Pelabuhan Ratu puts best face on for cultural festival<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Preparations are underway for a special week of
\nfestivities at the Pelabuhan Ratu coastal area in West Java.<\/p>\n
Locals have started sprucing up the district as they ready to
\nhost the first Palabuhan Ratu Festival, to open this Saturday.<\/p>\n
Several hotels are also preparing to welcome both local and
\nforeign tourists expected to attend the festival through Dec. 27
\nto watch traditional performances and more.<\/p>\n
Organizing official, Susilawati, said the event was scheduled
\nto be opened by a cultural procession, Palabuhan Ratu Manggung
\nMandiri.<\/p>\n
This ceremony is intended to thank God and Ratu Rara Kidul,
\nthe supernatural ruler of the southern sea, for the agricultural
\ngood harvest and an ample fishing catch, she said.<\/p>\n
But unlike the annual Fishermen's Day every April, the
\nfestival will not be limited to traditional performances and
\nattractions.<\/p>\n
\"The festival will also hold week-long exhibitions and sport
\nevents,\" Susilawati of the Sukabumi tourist agency told The
\nJakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
There will demonstrations on making local handicrafts and
\nfoods by cottage industries, and sport of cycling, white-water
\nrafting, jet skiing and beach volleyball.<\/p>\n
The area has become known for its Fishermen's Day ceremony. It
\nmostly involves fishermen who pay their respects to Ratu Rara
\nKidul by delivering offerings, such as a bull's head and a giant
\nturtle.<\/p>\n
Under next week's plan, the festival will be opened by the
\nprocession featuring dancers and guards dressed in traditional
\nSundanese attire of West Java, accompanied by musicians playing
\nangklung -- a traditional musical instrument made of bamboo --
\nand drums, tambourines and trumpets.<\/p>\n
The festival's organizer has scheduled numerous cultural
\nperformances and attractions to draw both local and foreign
\ntourists.<\/p>\n
\"Several hotels are participating in this festival,\" said
\nSusilawati.<\/p>\n
Featured attractions will include the Upacara Seren Taun, a
\nceremony where farmers show their gratitude for a good harvest by
\ndemonstrating paddy planting. This will be held Dec. 21 at
\nCitepus beach.<\/p>\n
A celebration of the sea, Upacara Pesta Laut, will have
\nfishermen showing off their skills at Karang Hawu beach on Dec.
\n24.<\/p>\n
The following day at the Samudra Beach Hotel there will be the
\nParebut Seeng attraction, featuring a \"bride\" and her \"groom\"
\nfighting over a seeng traditional handmade rice cooker.<\/p>\n
Other events include a mask dance and leather and wooden
\npuppet shows.<\/p>\n
Cycling will be held from Samudra Beach Hotel to Cibangban on
\nDec. 21, jet skiing the same day at the Pondok Dewata and
\nCibangkan beaches, and white-water rafting at the Citarik river
\non Dec. 23.<\/p>\n
Beach volleyball is planned at the Samudra Beach Hotel on Dec.
\n24, surfing the same day at the Cimaja beach and a traditional
\nfishing contest the following day at Citepus beach.<\/p>\n
Another cultural procession is scheduled to close the event on
\nDec. 27. (ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pelabuhan-ratu-puts-best-face-on-for-cultural-festival-1447893297",
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