Dogs, foreigners and devils at the Kemang Festival

Dogs, foreigners and devils at the Kemang Festival

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Dozens of "devils" walked slowly among the crowd that thronged
the Kemang Festival in South Jakarta on Saturday.

However, nobody was scared as they were actually just ordinary
human beings with head accessories featuring red devil horns.

The Rp 5,000-a-piece accessories were probably the best
selling items in the one-day festival, which was put on by the
city administration for the second time.

The festival is part of the month-long celebrations to
commemorate the city's 475th anniversary that actually falls on
June 22.

Hundreds of stalls were erected on the road, which was blocked
from motorists. Most of the sellers are people who run businesses
in Kemang.

Kemang, once a place where native Jakartans resided, is
currently known as a home to many expatriates here. It also known
as a popular entertainment spot with lots of galleries,
restaurants, bars, boutiques and antique shops.

The stalls mostly displayed clothes, handicrafts and
paintings. Some visitors, particularly expatriates, stopped by
stalls offering traditional outfits as there was a woman who
demonstrating the traditional batik painting.

Visitors could also enjoy the alternative music played by a
band, traditional dances and even a lion dance.

A parade of children wearing traditional costumes was held in
the morning. Their parents and relatives, who accompanied them,
took pictures.

Those who were hungry could visit several food stalls which
offered several kinds of mouthwatering meals at affordable
prices.

Here, visitors could enjoy the traditional native Jakartan
food such as kerak telor (baked rice with egg and several
traditional ingredients), which is rarely found in restaurants.

The visitors mostly came in groups with their families and
friends. Dozens of young couples brought their children to enjoy
the festivities, and some pushed baby carriages.

Several foreigners even took their dogs to enjoy the festival
together.

"It's a nice event for families. This event should not be made
only to commemorate the city's anniversary. The administration
should make a similar event like this more often as there are not
many places for families to hang out together here," said Will
Dunn, a Briton.

Another visitor, ibu Teta, who brought her three
grandchildren, agreed that the festival was a nice place for
family.

"It's safe for my grandchildren to walk and run around here
while I could do some window shopping," she said.