Erau Adat Kutai and Folk Art Festival (EIFAF) 2016

Local cultural event of Erau Adat Kutai and Folk Art Festival (EIFAF) 2016 will be appointed as a form of preservation of heritage and of course as an event to introduce society and audience on the richness of the local cultural art. The local arts will be presented at four venues during the execution of Erau Festival which were in the stage at basketball court on the side of Mahakam, Erau Expo stage, parking lot of Aji Imbut Complex, and Pulau Kumala’s main plaza on the event of street performance. This year, Erau was livened by delegates from 9 participating countries which are members of CIOFF (International Council of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts). The 9 participating countries are United States of America (Idaho), Lithuania, Estonia, Bulgaria, Canada, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Taiwan. The local teams will perform alternately with the participating groups, and also several art groups from other cities of East Borneo. The participations of CIOFF member countries in Erau were an exchange and learning of the art of the art performances. This has the aim to introduce Tenggarong or Kukar, and also the culture of Kutai Kartanegara Ing Martadipura Sultanate to outside community.

            On the night before the opening ceremony, there was a welcoming dinner for the participants of EIFAF 2016. The welcoming dinner was held at the yard of Regent of Kutai Kartanegara attended by guests and opened by the Regent of Kutai Kartanegara, Rita Widya Sari, P.hD. The event was held to welcome the participants to the Erau Adat Kutai International Folk Art Festival (EIFAF) 2016 and to establish a relationship to present the role of culture in peace and friendship between nations, also cultural exchange, and social interactions.

 

The opening of Erau started with traditional ceremony called “Mendirikan Ayu”. “Mendirikan Ayu” is a symbolization of efforts to find or establish safety and peace. In the procession of “Mendirikan Ayu”, the Sultan wore traditional clothes and sat on the throne. 

            On Sunday, 21^st of August 2016, there was a ceremonial opening of Erau Adat Kutai International Folk Art Festival (EIFAF) at Rondong Demang Tenggarong stadion. The event was opened by Art Director of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Endang Caturwati, S.St, MS. and also attended by the Ambassador of Seychelles for ASEAN, Nico Barito, President of CIOFF Indonesia, Said Rachmat, Network Director of Kota Pusaka Indonesia, the Governor of East Borneo, Awang Faroek Ishak together with Coordination of Leaders of East Borneo Provinces, Regent of Kutai Kartanegara, Rita Widyasari together with the Sultanate of Kutai Kartanegara, Ing Martadipura, all Kings and Sultans of Indonesia, Regents of East Borneo, Government of Sleman, Bantul, Gunung Kidul, Bandung district, public figures and officials, and members of CIOFF (International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts).

Before starting the ceremonies, the guest and officials did a Tepong Tawar tradition by the Sultanate of Kutai Kartanegara. On this event,the participants did a parade.  The opening of EIFAF 2016 was symbolized by lighting up 7 brongs (Big torches). One of the activities in EIFAF was Street Performance. The activity was held in Pulau Kumala, Tenggarong. The delegates from all countries had to do a performance. The performances managed to hypnotize the tourists of Pulau Kumala. After the performance, the delegates greeted the locals in Pulau Kumala.

            Besides Street Performance, the participants visited Kedaton Kutai Kartanegara on Tuesday, 23^rd of August 2016. The arrival of the participants was greeted by Aji Pangeran Ario Adjuar Poegar in front of Kedaton Kutai Kartanegara. The participants were presented with a sacred Kedaton Kutai Kartanegara dance, Topeng Kemindu. The Sultan of Kutai Kartanegara stated in his speech his hopes for the participants to be able to enjoy the activities arranger in the festival. The activitiy was then followed by performances from the participating team in front of the Sultan and the Crown Prince, and also the officials from each country. The countries presented a performance at Kedaton Kutai Kartanegara were Lithuania, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, USA, Taiwan, Russia, Romania, and Ukraine.

            The following day, Wednesday, 24^th of August 2016, the participants and thousands of locals socialized with official from Kutai Kartanegara in a banquet (Beseprah) held around Jembatan Besi until Gunung Pendidik. Beseprah was part of Erau Adat Kutai and International Folk Art Festival 2016.

            The participants of EIFAF 2016 were also invited to reduce the effect of global warming. Together with Department of Culture and Tourism of Kukar and Bankaltim, the participants attended Green Tenggarong event held at tourist attraction site, Waduk Panji Sukarame, on Thursday, 25^th of August which was also part of Erau Adat Kutai and International Folk Art Festival (EIFAF) 2016. The activity of the event was planting of several fruit tree typical to Kutai.

            After EIFAF 2016 held for a week long, the Regent of Kutai Kartanegara, Rita Widyasari, P.hD officially closed the event. The peak of the event was the “Mengulur Naga” procession. The procession itself was held in the yard of Kedaton of the Sultanate of Ing Martadipura. A replica of a dragon will cruise down the Mahakam river and end up in Kutai Lama, Anggana. After that, another procession called “Belimbur” was done in the purpose of sanctification from bad influence, add spirits in developing the region, so that the environments are free from bad influence. All delegates and guests attended the closing ceremony of Erau Adat Kutai and International Folk Arts Festival.

Written by : Alvita Rassya

Edited and published by : Gayatri Larasati & Ghina Aulia Megaputri