West Jakarta to host Betawi Days festival

West Jakarta to host Betawi Days festival

JAKARTA: The West Jakarta municipal administration is to hold
a Betawi Days festival to celebrate the capital's 477th
anniversary in the Srengseng urban forest on Saturday and Sunday.

The Betawi are the original inhabitants of Jakarta, with the
name being derived from the city's former name, Batavia.

The city's official website, www.beritajakarta.com, says that
the event will include stands serving traditional Betawi food,
such as ketupat sayur (rice cake served with vegetables cooked in
coconut milk and other side dishes), and onde onde (a round cake
made of rice flour with a filling of mung beans and covered with
sesame seeds). Residents of the municipality can set up stalls at
the site without paying a fee.

Jakarta traditions such as Gambang Kromong Marawis (small
Chinese-Indonesian orchestras), Betawi wedding processions,
dances and pencak silat martial art displays will also be staged.
-- JP