"I invite everyone to come and witness this cultural event of the Kuantan Singingi community, which has existed for over 120 years. This festival can also stimulate tourism and the local economy," Wardhana remarked in a statement on Wednesday.
The minister is scheduled to attend in person and participate in the opening ceremony, while Vice President Gibran will be present to lead the send-off ceremony for the 2025 Pacu Jalur participants.
Pacu Jalur is included in the list of 110 flagship events organized by the Ministry of Tourism's Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) and is projected to strengthen tourism competitiveness and preserve Indonesian culture.
The ministry's Deputy for Event Organizer Development, Vinsensius Jemadu, also noted that Pacu Jalur Festival has been part of KEN since 2022 and was one of the top ten KEN events in 2024.
The 2024 Pacu Jalur Festival recorded 1.4 million visitors and an economic turnover of Rp42.16 billion (US$2.5 million).
According to him, this achievement proves that Pacu Jalur is not merely a cultural heritage but also a driving force for the regional economy.
This year, the ministry supports the event by providing integrated promotions, strengthening event branding, improving the quality of event organization, and expanding market access through various digital channels.
Pacu Jalur previously went viral on social media because of its "aura farming" moves, which have been recreated by global stars such as Travis Scott, Neymar, and Marc Márquez.
Originating from Kuantan Singingi, Riau, the dance is traditionally performed on the bow of long wooden boats during Pacu Jalur river races.
Pacu Jalur has been an inseparable part of the Kuantan Singingi community's identity for centuries. In each race, long boats called "jalur" are decorated with distinctive carvings and are manned by 50-60 rowers, led by anak coki, young dancers whose rhythmic moves serve both as entertainment and as motivation for the rowers.
The race, rooted in local tradition, is often held to mark major celebrations, including Indonesia’s Independence Day.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma S, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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