Istiqlal to attract 10 million

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)