23rd Bali festival opens

23rd Bali festival opens

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): In a ceremony marked by a colorful parade
of Balinese traditional arts, Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri officially opened the 23rd Bali Arts Festival on
Saturday afternoon.

Dressed in a blue Kebaya (traditional Indonesian costume) her
arrival attracted a resounding welcome from the cheering
thousands who crowded the venue of the ceremony, Puputan
Margarana Square.

Bali has long been known as a traditional stronghold of
Megawati supporters whose grandmother was Balinese.

Megawati, accompanied by Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi
Sudirdja and Bali Governor Dewa Made Beratha, waved in
acknowledgement of the overwhelming response she received.

Though she declared the festival open, the Vice President did
not deliver a speech.

The festival, which will run until July 14, focuses on
nature's harmony.

This year's festival, which will cost some Rp 1 billion, will
involve at least 170 performance groups with around 2,500 artists
from all over Bali.

Some 124 events -- performances, exhibitions, seminars, and
competitions -- will be held over the next month.(zen)