Three-Day 'Penawar Rindu' Sea Festival Enlivens Batam's Belakang Padang
The Belakang Padang sub-district government in Batam, Riau Islands, is holding a people’s festival titled ‘Pesta Laut Penawar Rindu’ to enliven the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia.
The event, which runs for three days from Saturday (15/8) to Monday (17/8), features a variety of maritime competitions involving coastal communities in the border area between Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.
Belakang Padang sub-district head Abdul Hanafi said the sea festival serves as both entertainment and a means of strengthening community togetherness.
“The sea competitions begin on Saturday (15/8), and the peak will take place on 17 August,” he said when confirmed by reporters on Friday (14/8).
According to him, various competitions have been prepared to enliven the series of independence celebrations. The activities not only feature motorised water sports but also preserve a number of traditional competitions that have become part of coastal community life.
The competitions held include ketinting, lepet, and women’s rowing boats. Then on Sunday (16/8/2026), the preliminary rounds of the speedboat competition will be held.
Meanwhile on Monday (17/8), the event reaches its peak with the speedboat final and the traditional sailing boat race.
Several speedboat categories being contested include 200 HP sport racing, standard 15 HP fibreglass, 15 HP fibreglass racing, and 40 HP fibreglass racing.
In addition, there are ketinting saf in racing, ketinting lepet racing, women’s rowing boats, and traditional sailing boats in five, seven and nine-crew categories.
Belakang Padang community figure Hasim said the sea festival has become an annual tradition with cultural value for the local community.
“For the people of Belakang Padang, the sea is not only a place to earn a living, but also part of life and culture. This activity is very positive for reviving the spirit of togetherness among coastal communities,” he said.
He expressed hope that the activity can continue to be maintained as part of the maritime tradition of the Belakang Padang community. Besides being entertainment, the sea festival is considered capable of introducing the cultural and maritime tourism potential of the coastal area to a wider public.
Pesta Laut Penawar Rindu is one of a series of activities by the Belakang Padang community in welcoming the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, which carries the theme ‘A Sovereign, Just and Prosperous Indonesia’.