The Ministry's Culture Directorate General, through cooperation with the Indonesian Embassy, Indonesian Community Association, Qatar Foundations and Qatar Museum, facilitated the process to send five silat athletes, who flew directly from Jakarta.
"This is intended to introduce the richness of Indonesian traditional culture and sport," Culture Director General at the Ministry Hilmar Farid noted in a statement on Wednesday.
The event scheduled at the Multaqa Plaza, Qatar, is intended to introduce the richness of Indonesian traditional culture and sports and to celebrate Qatar-Indonesia Years of Culture 2023, he explained.
The silat athletes not only showcased their talent to the world but also offered silat training directly to the people of Qatar.
According to Farid, participating in the Qatar Indonesia Year of Culture 2023 is a matter of pride for Indonesia since pencak silat contains all elements that form the intangible cultural heritage.
Pencak silat tradition comprises verbal tradition, performance art, ritual, festival, traditional craft, social knowledge and practice as well as local wisdom.
"Indonesian pencak silat is also one of the sports to have won many achievements at the international level," he remarked.
The fact that pencak silat was recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2019 is also a matter of pride, he stated.
Pencak silat was recognized as intangible cultural heritage during the 14th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bogota, Colombia, on December 9-14, 2019.
Pencak silat is an Indonesian native culture in several regions and also a sport that has been passed down from generation to generation.
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Translator: Astrid F H, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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