Bogor holds folktale festival in English

BOGOR (JP): The Al-Umm Education, Training and Development Institution (LP3) in cooperation with state postal company PT Pos Indonesia and the Directorate General of Arts and Culture is holding a 10-day national competition on Indonesian folktales in English at the Bogor Botanical Gardens.

Fifteen participants from four provinces are taking part in the folktale festival from June 20 to June 30.

"It's especially design to help promote Indonesian folktales to foreign tourists," organizer Hendri Mefetra said on Wednesday.

"We also hope that Indonesian folktales will become a popular attraction that could woo tourists to visit Indonesia, and that the festival will give our folktales the opportunity to go international," he added.

Participants currently competing are from West Java, Central Java, East Kalimantan and West Sumatra.

"We invited all Indonesian folktale tellers from all 27 provinces to participate in the festival. The low number of participants is probably due to the requirement that all folktales be told in English," Hendri said.

Three winners in the contest will be given free return tickets to an overseas destination to display his or her caliber abroad.

Hendri gave no further details. (24/bsr)