Yogyakarta festival begins

YOGYAKARTA: Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X kicked off on Wednesday the Yogyakarta Art Festival, a full month of cultural events which highlight traditional and modern art performances.

The ceremony was marked by a parade of 12 artist groups marching down along Tugu bypass. In the parade was a giant gamelan set made by Empu Triwiguna and a Barongsai dance.

The performances will be divided into four main categories: Javanese fine arts, dances, traditional plays or ketoprak, and literature.

Musician Sapto Raharjo, who chairs the event's organizing committee, said this year's festival would be considered as a cultural movement.

Sapto also said that the busy Jl. Malioboro will be closed for a day on July 2 to host an art and exhibition bazaar. The street has become the city's center of business and tourism where Yogyakarta's specialties, antiques and handicrafts are sold.

"The street closure can also be treated as an experiment, because there have been suggestions to close the street for good," he added. (swa/bby)