Taste of Indonesian culture

Strengthening Sri Lanka-Indonesia ties:

Nethali Struys

The Indonesian Embassy has organized a free Indonesian cultural show to promote mutual understanding and goodwill between Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

A band of 43 artistes will fly from Yogyakarata city, Indonesia to Sri Lanka on September 5.

Traditional music and dance items will be performed by the Indonesian Cultural Troupe from September 6 to 8 at BMICH, Colombo and Hall de Galle. An Indonesian batik workshop will also be held on September 9 at the Indonesian Embassy premises.

“We believe that understanding the culture is important in promoting relations between Indonesians and Sri Lankans. Therefore, we arranged a troupe to visit Sri Lanka to promote people to people contact through art,” Indonesian Ambassador Djafar Husein said at a press briefing held at the Indonesian embassy recently.

The cultural troupe will stage traditional dances from Indonesian provinces such as Aceh, Yogyakarta, Central Java and Bali. The dancers will perform the royal dance Bedhaya Wiwaha Sangaskara, the comical marching dance Nirboyo, the vigorous stomp dance Sesorengan, the famous line dance Saman and the theatrical dance Cak Kesambut Sita.

Also, traditional music will be staged with Gamelan Javanese musical instruments to accompany Ganding compositions. The troupe will also present the loud beat composition Gending Nglantak, the melodious composition Gending Dayita and the pleasant delicate composition Gending Ladrang.

“The troupe represents values important to Indonesia such as gracefulness, vivacity, friendship and harmony,” the ambassador said.

The show is open for the public free of charge, but on invitation only. Invitations are available at the Indonesian embassy, no.400/50, Sarana Road, Colombo 7 and at the entrance to the show.

The batik workshop will be held at the embassy premises and registration will be carried out at the embassy for 50 participants.

The ambassador requests all Sri Lankans to get the best out of this opportunity provided after about 10 years to enjoy the Indonesian culture. Those interested are requested to get the invitations from the embassy.