Braga Festival: Bandung, West Java, Indonesia

By Barrie | December 29th, 2006 | No Comments

There are so many cultural festivals occurring during the year in Java, and many more across the archipelago, but an interesting one that has just concluded in Bandung is the Braga Festival.

Festival showcases art, culture

Spectators got up close and personal to West Java’s traditional scarecrow in the Bebegig performance at the Wednesday opening of Bandung’s three-day Braga Festival.

Hundreds of local and foreign tourists braved the rain to attend the shows on Jl. Braga and watch performances by artists from the province’s 10 regencies and cities.

The street, which was closed for the festival, was filled with street cafes from star-rated hotels and shops and stalls promoting bamboo and ceramic handicrafts.

Provincial culture and tourism office head Idjudin Budhiana said the Rp 200 million (US$21,739) festival had not been properly promoted, which meant many people might not know it was happening.

Despite this, he said administration planned to make the festival the center of its tourism strategy.

Jl. Braga was a busy, upmarket city district during colonial times. The 1.5-kilometer street is also known for its historical buildings.

A tourist from the Hague, Marianne Burton, said she was lucky to have witnessed the festival. She is the city with her family for a three-day holiday before leaving to Yogyakarta.

“It’s perfect. I like the dances, the clothes; it’s totally different from street festivals in our country,” Burton said.

The festival will run until Friday. It was opened by provincial administration secretary Leks Laksamana.

(JP/Yuli Tri Suwarni)