Here, we hand over the fire blessed by God from the land of peace to illuminate Indonesia and the world.
Jayapura (ANTARA) - The torch for XVI National Paralympic Week (Peparnas) was lit in a traditional ritual performed by Yafit Yanse Maharga, head of Yahui tribe, in Genyem village, Grime Valley, Jayapura district in Papua Province on Tuesday.

Beginning the ritual, he rubbed a pointed wooden stick into a cavity in a wooden container. Dry bushes and dry coconut wood pieces were scattered around the container.

After 15 minutes, a fire sparked and immediately spread through the dry bushes and woods. As the fire grew, Maharga quickly lit a bunch of dry wooden twigs and used them to light the XVI Peparnas torch.


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"Here, we hand over the fire blessed by God from the land of peace to illuminate Indonesia and the world," he said to Grime Valley public figure, Pastor Albert.

The 47-year-old priest then passed the torch to the daily chief of the XVI Peparnas Committee Doren Wakerkwa.

"All of us are witnesses to a history that the fire for XVI Papua Peparnas torch was taken from this village," he remarked.

After the fire was stored in two special boxes, he handed the torch to Papuan wheelchair athlete Kafier Kayage to sign the torch relay.


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The athletics athlete was escorted by a number of runners from the military and police to the office of the head of Jayapura district in Doyo Baru village, Waibu sub-district.

The torch traveled about 80 kilometers (km) through the road on the ridges of the Nimbuk Hills.

As the entourage was also required to go around Lake Sentani for about 25 km, six buses and three trucks were deployed to transport the torch relay participants.

After an overnight halt at the district head’s office, the torch relay will continue on Thursday from the office to the Jayapura Mayor's Office.

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Translator: Hendrina Kandipi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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