Istiqlal to attract 10 million

JAKARTA (JP): The organizing committee for the upcoming second Istiqlal Festival are expecting up to 10 million people will visit the month-long international gala.

The committee bases its estimate on turnout at the first festival in 1991 which reached six million people.

Committee chairman Mar'ie Muhammad promised on Wednesday night that the festival, centered around the Istiqlal grand mosque in Central Jakarta from Oct. 23 through Nov. 23, will be "better organized and more lively" that the first festival and that more countries will be participating.

The Rp 10 billion (US$4.4 million) festival will feature exhibitions of Islamic books, architecture, traditional and contemporary art, seminars, a bazaar, contests and artistic performances. (pan)