Banten Festival opens in TMII

JAKARTA: The 2004 Banten Festival was officially opened on Thursday at the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah Park in East Jakarta.

Banten Governor Djoko Munandar hoped that the week-long festival would help raise the public's appreciation toward the province's various cultural and economic potentials, as well as become a gathering event for the Banten community living in Greater Jakarta.

During the opening, visitors were treated by a parade of traditional Banten performances, such as the saman rudat and dogdog lonjor dances, the angklung buhun, rampak bedug, calung renteng musical performances, and the pencak silat terumbu martial arts performance.

Meanwhile, throughout the festival, visitors can enjoy an exhibition of the province's cultural heritage and commodities at the park's Istiqlal Mosque. -- JP