Gorontalo Provincial Government Supports Tumbilotohe Underwater Festival

Gorontalo — The Department of Tourism, Creative Economy, Youth and Sport (Disparekrafpora) of Gorontalo Province has announced support for the Gorontalo Tumbilotohe Underwater festival.

Vice Governor of Gorontalo Idah Syahidah Rusli Habibie stated on Monday that the provincial government has previously only supported the land-based Tumbilotohe Festival, despite the underwater version having been held for seven years.

“I have only just learnt that there is also Tumbilotohe beneath the sea. This is a creative idea that deserves support from all parties, including us — the provincial government strongly supports its implementation,” said Idah.

The Tumbilotohe tradition, held annually, involves the “night of lighting lamps” and represents a cultural practice dating back to the arrival of Islam in Gorontalo, aimed at uniting communities and strengthening social bonds.

The primary original purpose was to provide street lighting to illuminate residents travelling to perform evening (Isya) and tarawih prayers at mosques. As society has evolved, the tradition has incorporated various innovations, including the Tumbilotohe Underwater festival organised by the Gorontalo diving community on the evening of 15 March 2026.

The event involves numerous parties including the Gorontalo Naval Base (Lanal TNI), the Gorontalo Water Police (Polairud), the Gorontalo Search and Rescue Office, the Edu Dive diving community, and support from other local government agencies.

Beyond preserving traditional and cultural values, this innovative activity serves as a vehicle for regional development through the tourism sector. The initiative also functions as an educational tool for marine ecosystem conservation whilst promoting the region’s tourism potential, potentially attracting numerous tourists and boosting the local and regional economy.

Consequently, the provincial government will incorporate Tumbilotohe Underwater into its annual destination calendar. Despite budgetary constraints, the Gorontalo provincial government is confident that next year’s event can be held on a larger and more festive scale, involving more personnel.

The provincial government will also strategically select an implementation location near tourism facilities and infrastructure. “I strongly support this activity and am confident that in future we will hold a much larger and more festive event that will attract many local, domestic, and international tourists. This is officially established as an annual agenda of the Gorontalo provincial government,” concluded the Vice Governor.