Keraton festival ends today as qualified success
Keraton festival ends today as qualified success
CIREBON, West Java (JP): The week-long keraton (palace)
festival ends today.
Visitors, the media and more than 3,000 participants, mostly
the descendants of former royal families, are heading home,
leaving this coastal town to go about its usual business.
Although everyone praised the venues, some said this must-see
cultural event should have been better promoted.
"Teachers should bring their students to this rare event so
they can learn on the spot about the traditions of royal courts
in the past," said Elly, a tourist from Jakarta.
An Australian tourist said: "I am really enjoying seeing such
a rare event where I can learn about the diversity of Indonesia's
culture and traditions, but I learned that the promotion was
quite poor."
The festival cost about Rp 5 billion (US$2.04 million), more
than double the original estimate of Rp 2.7 billion. One of the
country's most important cultural events, it displayed the
grandeur and traditions of the royal courts and principalities.
The event not only made the younger generation of nobles aware
of their glorious past, but also brought together distant
relatives.
"We never knew that the Sultanate of Amantubillah in West
Kalimantan has a family link with our ancestors," said Andi
Kumala Idjo from Gowa.
According to KPH Endro Kusumo from the Pakualaman principality
in Central Java, the event served to educate people about the
good aspects of the palace.
"Nowadays, it's rare to see children bowing while passing in
front of their elders or parents," he said.
The second biennial Festival Keraton Nusantara, with 23 former
kingdoms from 13 provinces participating, was aimed at preserving
the nation's heritage of royal traditions and boosting local
tourist spots.
They came in entourages of acting leaders and relatives to
perform their most splendid cultural ceremonies, most of which
revolve around marriage, birth and royal life. Some contingents
also brought priceless heirlooms for exhibit.
The third festival is expected to be held in Bima, West Nusa
Tenggara. (bsr)