Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Deputy Governor Johni Asadoma said the 2025 Winter Festival, held Saturday at Fatukolen Hill in South Central Timor (TTS) District, served as a platform to strengthen social unity and promote cultural values.

“This festival fosters togetherness and reinforces the values of kinship and solidarity in the TTS District,” Asadoma said during the event.

He was joined by NTT Regional Legislative Council Speaker Emelia Julia Nomleni and TTS District Head Eduard Markus Lioe. They were welcomed with a traditional Natoni ceremony and gifted Mollo’s signature woven cloth by local elders.

Asadoma stressed that the Winter Festival was not just an entertainment event, but a meaningful effort to maintain community cohesion in the face of modernization.

The event also gave young people a space to explore and express their creativity through art and performance.

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“This is a stage for our youth to express themselves, develop their talents, and even turn their passions into careers,” he said.

Asadoma also praised the performance of the Kici Ana FBS Dance Group, which is set to represent Indonesia at the Annual Indonesia Remarkable Festival 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Despite temperatures dropping to 18 degrees Celsius, thousands of residents took part in festival programs, including traditional dances, fashion shows, music concerts, and exhibitions by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The event highlighted the natural beauty of Fatukolen Hill’s green landscape and promoted local products made by the Mollo community.

Organizers said the 2025 Winter Festival proved Fatukolen Hill is not only known for its cool climate, but also the warmth of its people, an asset they called vital to driving the region’s development.

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Translator: Kornelis, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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