Sutiyoso moves to new house in grand rite
Sutiyoso moves to new house in grand rite
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso and his family moved into a
new house yesterday with the help of 15 horse-drawn buggies
(andong) and thousands of guests in a traditional Betawi (native
Jakartans) ceremony.
The governor moved to Jl. Taman Suropati No. 7 in Menteng,
Central Jakarta, about 300 meters away from his previous
residence -- Jl. Teuku Umar No. 60.
A three-kilometer procession -- which started at the old house
at 9:30 a.m. -- included Sutiyoso and his family in the first
buggy and close relatives, neighbors and Abang and None (Mr. and
Miss Jakarta) and some household goods loaded into the remaining
buggies.
Three oplets (old-style minivans) were used to transport the
family's personal belongings.
The new colonial-style house, built on a 2,000 square meter
plot of land, overlooks a large garden. There are huge bird cages
and four perkutut (turtledove) poles.
In the hallway, there is a photo of Sutiyoso and his family
dressed in leather and posing with a Harley Davidson motorbike.
"It is one of his favorites," one of his officials told The
Jakarta Post during the ceremony rehearsal Saturday.
There are also two big aquariums, one filled with colorful sea
fish and the other with golden arwana.
Yesterday's moving ceremony was highlighted by tanjidor, a
traditional Betawi musical performance; lenong, a Betawi comedy
and the presence of Indonesian starlets including Rano Karno and
Maudy Kusnaedy, the stars of a popular television series Si Doel
Anak Sekolahan.
During the ceremony, Sutiyoso's wife, Setyo Rini, was called
Mpok (a friendly title for Betawi women) while the chairwoman of
the Betawi Culture Foundation, Emma Agus Bisrie, placed a scarf
on Rini's head.
The title Abang (Betawi for brother) was bestowed on Sutiyoso
at Taman Mini in East Jakarta on Oct. 12.
Some 4,000 guests were formally invited to join the ceremony,
including foreign ambassadors, celebrities and high-ranking
officials in the city. Another 2,000 people lined the streets to
watch the procession.
"The ceremony is open for every Jakartan, especially Betawi
people. This is their party too," Fauzi Bowo, head of the city's
tourism agency, who led the event, said.
Prayers and offerings were made as hundreds of people walked
through the new house, which was blessed by noted preacher
Zainuddin M.Z.
"May the new governor and his family live safe from harm and
the new house bring them luck in the future," Satiman, a
trashman, who has been working in the Menteng area for 30 years,
said.
Sutiyoso said that he was touched by the ceremony.
"I will make sure this kind of traditional occasion is
repeated by high-ranking officials, so we can preserve not only
Betawi but all kinds of cultures," he said.
When the ceremony ended, Sutiyoso and his wife danced to
traditional Betawi music and dangdut with their guests in
Suropati Park, which is in front of their new house. (07/ind)
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso and his family moved into a
new house yesterday with the help of 15 horse-drawn buggies
(andong) and thousands of guests in a traditional Betawi (native
Jakartans) ceremony.
The governor moved to Jl. Taman Suropati No. 7 in Menteng,
Central Jakarta, about 300 meters away from his previous
residence -- Jl. Teuku Umar No. 60.
A three-kilometer procession -- which started at the old house
at 9:30 a.m. -- included Sutiyoso and his family in the first
buggy and close relatives, neighbors and Abang and None (Mr. and
Miss Jakarta) and some household goods loaded into the remaining
buggies.
Three oplets (old-style minivans) were used to transport the
family's personal belongings.
The new colonial-style house, built on a 2,000 square meter
plot of land, overlooks a large garden. There are huge bird cages
and four perkutut (turtledove) poles.
In the hallway, there is a photo of Sutiyoso and his family
dressed in leather and posing with a Harley Davidson motorbike.
"It is one of his favorites," one of his officials told The
Jakarta Post during the ceremony rehearsal Saturday.
There are also two big aquariums, one filled with colorful sea
fish and the other with golden arwana.
Yesterday's moving ceremony was highlighted by tanjidor, a
traditional Betawi musical performance; lenong, a Betawi comedy
and the presence of Indonesian starlets including Rano Karno and
Maudy Kusnaedy, the stars of a popular television series Si Doel
Anak Sekolahan.
During the ceremony, Sutiyoso's wife, Setyo Rini, was called
Mpok (a friendly title for Betawi women) while the chairwoman of
the Betawi Culture Foundation, Emma Agus Bisrie, placed a scarf
on Rini's head.
The title Abang (Betawi for brother) was bestowed on Sutiyoso
at Taman Mini in East Jakarta on Oct. 12.
Some 4,000 guests were formally invited to join the ceremony,
including foreign ambassadors, celebrities and high-ranking
officials in the city. Another 2,000 people lined the streets to
watch the procession.
"The ceremony is open for every Jakartan, especially Betawi
people. This is their party too," Fauzi Bowo, head of the city's
tourism agency, who led the event, said.
Prayers and offerings were made as hundreds of people walked
through the new house, which was blessed by noted preacher
Zainuddin M.Z.
"May the new governor and his family live safe from harm and
the new house bring them luck in the future," Satiman, a
trashman, who has been working in the Menteng area for 30 years,
said.
Sutiyoso said that he was touched by the ceremony.
"I will make sure this kind of traditional occasion is
repeated by high-ranking officials, so we can preserve not only
Betawi but all kinds of cultures," he said.
When the ceremony ended, Sutiyoso and his wife danced to
traditional Betawi music and dangdut with their guests in
Suropati Park, which is in front of their new house. (07/ind)