You can enjoy this unique festival in Indonesia during your holidays
Indonesia is a country with diverse cultures and rich traditions. The country is home to more than two hundred and thirty million people with various religious and cultural backgrounds. This huge population means the country has a mix of many festivals, cultural events, and ceremonies. Indonesia is inhabited by various ethnic, linguistic and religious groups. Even minorities have many local celebrations. This makes the list of festivals in Indonesia very long.
You will never be short of choices when it comes to days of celebration, throughout the year there are some or other special or important days that need to be celebrated or have some sort of religious belief attached to them. Come and see the following festivals and celebrations during your 2019 holidays.
1. Rambu Solo Ceremony.
This festival is also known as the Toraja Funeral Ceremony. The Rambu Solo ceremony is one of the best festivals in Indonesia. It is usually held between July and September, and it is celebrated throughout Indonesia by a group of tribes called the Toraja.
2. Jember Fashion Carnival.
Based on the name, we can all know that this festival really symbolizes Indonesian fashion trends. This festival is known as an icon of East Java’s contemporary culture. This fashion parade is very impressive, showing spectacular modern costumes from various traditions and cultures throughout Indonesia.
3. Baliem Valley Festival.
Celebrated around the month of August, this festival is celebrated by various groups of people and tribes. There is a belief that flows in the hearts of these people that “war is not just a conflict but also a symbol of fertility and prosperity”. The festival is about a mock war between local tribes, and involves up to 30 to 40 people from 20 different groups. The tribes came in their own traditional clothes and fought with each other.
4. Sekaten.
Sekaten is one of the traditional festivals in Islamic celebrations and it marks and commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. This festival is a time for some social stratification in the country and non-Muslims are taught about Islam.
5. Mappan Retation.
Mappanretasi is one of the ceremonies carried out on Bugis Beach, Pagaran, Tanah Bambu Regency, and South Kalimantan. This sea party is enjoyed for three weeks in April and its peak is held in the last week of the same month. At the peak of the event, the fishermen’s boats were sent out to sea as thanks to Dewa Mahana Karana for the abundant deep sea products obtained and used by the community, especially Baruhan Pagatan.
6. Tomohon International Flower Festival.
This festival is held at Sabta Pesona which also includes performances of kolintang, a traditional dance from Minahasa, and there will also be an introduction to the seven best destinations in this region which are called the seven wonders of Tomohon. This festival takes place along Tomohon’s main beach featuring floats presented in various districts in North Sulawesi. Last year, there were also participants in this festival from other countries, such as China and Singapore.
7. Pasola Jousting Festival.
This thrilling traditional war game is held on Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara and this festival takes place from February to March. The exact place to be used as a battle stage is determined by the village elders when the full moon rises where Katon plays the most important role in determining the date. The estimation of holding Pasola Josting is difficult because the right is not only part of the local belief ritual known as Marapu and click here.