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)