Arts market marks rector's birthday

SEMARANG: A three-day arts market was held from Monday to Wednesday this week in the campus of Diponegoro University (Undip) in Semarang, Central Java, to celebrate the 60th birthday of its rector Eko Budihardjo.

The campus, located on Jl. Imam Barjo, was turned into a stage using a drying fishpond there.

There on the stage, the grandfather and father of two daughters read poems.

Traditional performances like the Lengger dance from Banyumas, the Kubro Siswo dance from Magelang, a theatrical performance by Sanggar Seni Paramita and the university's choir were also staged.

Born in Purwokerto, Central Java, on June 9, 1944, Eko Budihardjo who is also chairman of the Central Java Arts Board, has written no less than 200 books on different topics. --JP