Immersive and Vibrant: Here are 10 Must-See Festivals in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia hosts more than 1,300 ethnic groups with their respective cultures and traditions. Many of these ethnic groups hold festivals to preserve their traditions.

In addition to being important for these ethnic groups, they also attract many local and foreign tourists. These vibrant festivals are not only fun, but they also raise awareness of an ethnic group's presence and allow tourists to understand the values of local wisdom.

Are you curious about Indonesia's vibrant festivals? As reported by Traveloka, Holidify, and Travel Triangle, here are some of Indonesia's festivals worth visiting.

1. Ogoh-ogoh, Bali

Leading up to Nyepi, an important Hindu celebration in Bali known for its silent atmosphere, the local community holds the Ogoh-ogoh festival. This event features giant, terrifying-looking puppets, which symbolize negative energy and evil in the world.

2. Baliem Valley Festival, Papua

Several tribes in the Baliem Valley, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Highlands, have a unique tradition held regularly every August, the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival. This event is not just a festival, but also a competition between tribes. Various cultural performances, from dances to handicrafts, can be seen throughout the event.

3. Dieng Cultural Festival, Central Java

True to its name, this festival in Indonesia is held in one of the popular tourist destinations in Central Java, the Dieng Plateau. This three-day cultural festival invites visitors to enjoy musical performances and participate in traditional lantern lighting activities.

4. Sekaten, Yogyakarta

The pride of the Yogyakarta community makes Sekaten unique, combining elements of culture and religion. More precisely, Sekaten is a moment for Javanese Muslims to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. The event lasts for about a week, from 5 to 11 Rabi'al-awwal.

5. Bau Nyale, West Nusa Tenggara

The next festival in Indonesia is Bau Nyale, performed by the people of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. In the local language, bau means "catching" and nyale refers to a type of sea worm that is usually green, brown, or orange in color.

This annual tradition is only carried out in February or March because the sea worms only appear in those months. Furthermore, the local community believes that consuming Nyale can increase a man's stamina and make a woman look like a princess.

6. Pasola, East Nusa Tenggara

Similar to Bau Nyale in Lombok, the people of Sumbawa in East Nusa Tenggara hold Pasola every February or March. Aimed at entertaining the spirits, this tradition involves two groups of horse riders who will throw wooden spears at each other.

7. Jember Fashion Carnaval, East Java

Do you want to experience the festive atmosphere of the Brazilian Carnival with its colorful costumes? A similar atmosphere can be felt at the Jember Fashion Carnaval, or JFC.

Tourists can witness processions of people in vibrant costumes strutting along a 4 km long runway. Inspired by a fashion week organized by designer Dynand Fariz in 2002, this fashion carnival can be found every August in Jember, East Java.

8. Lake Toba Festival, North Sumatra

Originating from a local celebration that has now transformed into an internationally scaled event, the Lake Toba Festival in North Sumatra invites travelers to appreciate the beauty of one of the largest volcanic lakes in the world while understanding the local cultural values.

In addition to being a celebration, the Lake Toba Festival also involves traditional ceremonies by the locals as a form of respect for nature. Later, tourists can enjoy traditional art performances and even water sports activities, as boat racing.

9. Bidar Boat Festival, South Sumatra

As reported by Wonderful Indonesia, the bidar boat is one of the iconic modes of transportation that is a source of pride for the people of Palembang. Instead of just serving as a means to transport passengers from one point to another, the local government has turned it into the main attraction in an annual event.

It is regularly held every Indonesian Independence Day and is called the Bidar Boat Festival. Participants decorate these 20-30-meter-long boats as attractively as possible and compete to reach the finish line.

10. Tabuik Festival, West Sumatra

The Tabuik Festival in Padang, West Sumatra, completes the list of festivals in Indonesia. Commemorated every Ashura, an important day during the month of Muharram in the Islamic calendar. Tabuik invites travelers to participate in a bazaar and to witness a variety of cultural attractions and traditional art competitions.

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