Bantul locals put on culture festival

YOGYAKARTA: Villagers from the three hamlets of Nitiprayan, Jomegatan and Gumuk in Ngestiharjo village, Kasihan subdistrict, Bantul regency, are to hold a four-day cultural festival, titled Kenduri Seni Desa.

The official opening ceremony is to be held on Saturday from 3 p.m. and will be in the format of a festival along the village road connecting the three hamlets.

It is also along the same road that some cultural performances and activities such as music and dance, painting and other forms of artistic activity will be on display for the public to enjoy.

"We will also hold a carnival involving hundreds of participants from the three hamlets and from the surrounding environment and even from outside Yogyakarta. They will present various artistic attractions," said coordinator of the festival Ong Harry Wahyu, adding that visiting participants were from Papua, Bali, South Sumatra and Aceh, and Wonosobo, Central Java.

A special Indonesian-Australian collaborative theater performance titled Kembalinya Legenda Sawung Galing, involving noted Indonesian musician Sawung Jabo and Australian art director Don Mamouney, is also scheduled for the opening ceremony. -- JP