DeveNews.com-Jakarta. Indonesia is one of the countries that have a rich, unique and authentic culture spread across it. Each region has their own ethnic group with different kind of cultural background which includes different language, customs and specialities. That’s why Indonesia also has a wide varieties of traditional festivals that’s held on special occasions. Quoted from selipan.com, here are top 6 Indonesia’s traditional festivals that you should watch at least once in your life !
1. Lembah Baliem Festival, Papua
Lembah Baliem is a traditional war festivals of three local ethnic in Papua : Dani, Lani and Yani. This drama like-festival involved real weaponries and war scenario such as kidnapping and revenge between the tribes, complete with their traditional war attributes. Totally cool !
2. Dieng Culture Festival, Dieng
The land above clouds, Dieng, has a special culture festival that is held every year and always crowded by both local and international tourists. The main attraction of this festival lies on the haircut ritual that involves a kid with dreadlocks, whom local believed as the descendant of Gods. After the ritual, local people will hold a music and lantern festival until late night.
3. Karapan Sapi Festival, Madura
Karapan Sapi represents the main characteristic of local people in Madura. This festival is held as one of the prestigious event where people showcase the strength of their buffalos after months of training and receiving special treatments from their owner. The winner receives money prizes up to hundred million rupiahs.
4. Nias Culture Festival, South
Lompat batu is one of the most popular culture festivals among ethnic people of Nias. You can watch this festival being held every year in Bawomataluo Village, South Nias. This tradition involves a group of men that have to jump through a big tall stone that is sacred among local people.
5. Cap Go Meh Festival, Singkawang, West Borneo
Not only the authentic festival that you can enjoy here. In Singkawang, there’s Cap Go Meh festival that’s a part of culture assimilation between local people and chinese ethnicity. During this festival, you can see a colossal parade being held around town for days, where people carrying hundreds of sculptures and statues that’s related to both traditions and customs.
6. Ngaben Ceremony, Bali
One of the most popular and famous festival in Bali, Ngaben defined as a sacred ritual and ceremony where Hindu people give offerings to the ancestors who already passed away to ease their way to the after world. It is also a symbolized tradition where Hindu families express their willingness and blessing towards the dying family member. This ritual involves cremation of the corpse, followed by ash sowing at the end of the day.
[][Bella Setiawati]]
