Heaptalk, Jakarta — At the 24th-anniversary celebration on November 5, 2023, West Kutai will present a fresh concept by breaking the Indonesian Record Museum (Muri) record for the largest number of mawig gawangk or wearing the traditional Dayak bags during the Dahau Festival.
West Kutai Regent FX Yapan said that the Dahau Festival is an effort to care for and preserve local culture in the regency, as quoted from RRI Samarinda. The activity of wearing a traditional Dayak bag called gawangk is chosen to break Muri’s record.
“The Dahau Festival is one of the West Kutai government’s efforts and innovations to preserve the culture. The festival, which will be combined with various interesting activities, is believed to attract many tourists to come and help the economy in the region,” said Yapan.
Held for 12 days from October 23 to November 5, the Dahau Festival has broad meaning for the West Kutai community, including being part of the regency anniversary celebration, evaluating the performance of government institutions, showcasing MSME products, and improving the community’s economy. Yapan said, “The Dahau Festival also reflects the historic moment of the founding of West Kutai as a Regency.”
Welcoming President Joko Widodo on November 3
Further, Yapan conveyed that the anniversary celebration will be enlivened with various traditional activities. “This festival shows how rich and proud our people are of their ancestral heritage,” he added.
Head of the West Kutai Transportation Department who also serves as chairman of the Dahau Festival 2023, Nopandel, explained that preparations are being finalized considering that before the peak event of the Dahau Festival, President Joko Widodo will visit West Kutai. He said, “We will mobilize the masses to welcome the President at Itho Sendawar Square on November 3 starting at 8 a.m. with a mass expected to attend around 25,000 people.”
Apart from welcoming the President, the Dahau Festival committee will also break Muri’s record with the largest number of people wearing traditional Dayak bags on November 5, 2023. “Through the Dahau Festival, we hope that West Kutai will become more widely known by the public both at the national and even international levels,” concluded Nopandel. (Translated by Sinta)
