Indonesia's Erau ceremony to be held together with a world-class Arts of Folklore Festival

Indonesia, Feb 1, 2013 - (ACN Newswire) - Indonesia welcomes you to the Erau ceremony, an annual Sultanate Kutai Kartanegara Ing Martadipura sacred ceremony held in the Keraton (palace). Surrounding the palace, there will be a bustle of festivities spanning cultural art exhibitions, traditional sports competitions, special markets and other events.

This year's Erau ceremony, which will be held on June 30 - July 7, 2013, will be juxtaposed with a world-class arts of folklore festival, to become the "Erau International Folklore and Art Festival (EIFAF)".

The arts expo, to be specially named "Kutai Kartanegara Art & Craft Expo", will showcase the splendid works of Kutai Kartanegara and other participating countries' crafters, painters, sculptors, and other artists.

The ceremony, folklore festival, arts expo, sports and public markets celebrating the week enliven Tenggarong City, the capital of Kutai Kartanegara regency, which was once the seat of government of the Sultanate of Kutai Kartanegara Ing Martadipura.

The arts festival will be held in conjunction with the UNESCO-consultative related CIOFF (Conseil International des Organizations de Festivals de Folklore et the arts traditional) Indonesia, a Paris-based world folk arts organization, which aims to create peace through culture/arts. Thus far eight countries have confirmed participation in the event; Senegal, USA, Russia, Thailand, India, Turkey, Algeria and Egypt, with the total number of participants of 215 representatives.

The Kutai Kartanegara district government, the Department of Culture and Tourism, and the CIOFF are inviting up to 250 representatives, assuming 10 countries take part in this cultural arts event.

During their stay in the capital city, Tenggarong, EIFAF's participants will pursue different agendas, including a traditional arts performance from each country to be held in three different spots; the main stage at the Mahakam's riverside, art exhibition in the expo, and other unique street performances.

In addition, participating countries will alternately attend the nightly Bepelas ceremony, one of a series of Erau's traditional ceremonies at the Keraton. The EIFAF's participants are also able to watch the Dayak tribe's performance at the Rumah Lamin arena on Kumala island.

EIFAF representatives will also participate in the Kutai traditional sport exhibition, including kelom panjang (clog), behempas bantal, belogo, enggrang, and other attractive traditional games. As a form of environmental stewardship, EIFAF participants will also conduct a tree planting in the area of Kumala island.

To further recognize Kutai Kartanegara, the participants will visit the Kedaton, a modern palace and the office of the Kutai Kartanegara's regent, the Department of Culture and Tourism, historic sites, and other outstanding tourism sites. And on the way to Rondong Demang Stadium, before the opening of the EIFAF, the participants will participate in a parade along the avenues of the city.

In addition to the cultural exchange, the EIFAF event is expected to introduce and broaden the culture, the tradition, and tourism in the Kutai Kartanegara region. The event not only promotes the majesty of Sultanate Kutai Ing Martadipura, who used to rule seven East Borneo regencies/towns, but will also reveal the splendor and diversity of Kutai Kartanegara as one of Indonesia's flagship touristic destinations.

"Erau International Folklore and Art Festival", destined to become a Kutai Kartanegara icon, will become an exciting attraction both to domestic and foreign tourists, fostering local tourism, especially in Tenggarong, Kutai Kartanegara.

Contact:

Sri Wahyuni
Head Of Department Of Tourism
East Kalimantan - Indonesia
T: +62 541 6669034
F: +62 541 6667139
E: srikukar@gmail.com
U: http://disbudpar.kutaikartanegarakab.go.id


Source: Govt of Indonesia, Kabupaten Kutai Kartanegara

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