Mamuju, West Sulawesi (ANTARA) – West Sulawesi provincial government improves the preparation for the traditional boat festival Sandeq that will be held on September 9, 2022.
“Every West Sulawesi’s regional instrument organization (OPD) is urged to be more active and improve the entire preparation for West Sulawesi’s Sandeq Festival,” West Sulawesi’s Acting Governor Akmal Malik noted here Saturday.
OPDs in West Sulawesi are also requested to continue to provide their input to improve West Sulawesi’s Sandeq Festival.
According to Malik, there is an agreement with Minister of Youth and Sports Zainuddin Amali that the Sandeq Festival in West Sulawesi should be held along with the commemoration of national sports day (Haornas).
“West Sulawesi Government had formulated various steps to organize the two events, namely Haornas and Sandeq Festival,” he informed.
West Sulawesi government will meet with Deputy Mayor of Balikpapan Rahman Mas’ud over the implementation of Sandeq Festival that will travel through Makassar Strait from West Sulawesi to Nusantara Capital City (IKN), Kalimantan.
Sandeq Festival is held to deliver message across Indonesia that West Sulawesi government supports the development of Nusantara through Sandeq culture.
“A total of thirty four Sandeq boats will travel to Kalimantan as a symbol wrapped in West Sulawesi culture that 34 provinces in Indonesia are ready to support the acceleration of IKN development,” Malik remarked.
The Sandeq Festival is held using funds from sponsors as well as the private sector, and it does not use the regional budget, he informed.
This is because West Sulawesi government is keen to have everyone be ready to organize and make Sandeq Festival a success as the pride of West Sulawesi residents, he explained.
Sandeq Festival’s route will begin from Silopo Cape, Polman District, heading to Somba and Deking area in Majene, Majene District, as far as 170 kilometers.
The boats will then head toward Kalimantan and will be accompanied by the military to maintain the safety of people who drive the traditional boats.
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