Cultural Carnival, Colossal Dance at Golo Koe Festival 2025

The 2025 Golo Koe Festival in Labuan Bajo Subdistrict, Komodo District, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province successfully drew public admiration with its Cultural Carnival and Maria Assumpta Nusantara Colossal Dance on Aug. 12, 2025.

The Cultural Carnival kicked off at 02.00 Central Indonesian Time (WITA) in front of the West Manggarai Regency Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing, and Settlement Areas Office.

Thousands of carnival participants then marched past the Komodo National Park Office, the Wisata Hotel, and along the Soekarno Hatta Road to finish at the Labuan Bajo Waterfront.

The Cultural Carnival was attended by 50 groups. They include communities and traditional associations such as the cultural associations of East Manggarai, East Flores, Sumba, Timor, Java, North Sulawesi, Padang, and Bali.

Also attending were representatives from several parishes in the Labuan Bajo Diocese, West Manggarai Regency Government Offices, as well as the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF).

Following the carnival is the Maria Assumpta Nusantara Colossal Dance performed by 400 Stella Maris Labuan Bajo Vocational School students. This dance captivated the audience with its formations and choreography, rich in religious and cultural significance.

Accompanied by a Manggarai song steeped in local customs, the dance served as an introduction to the St. Mary Assumpta Nusantara statue as it entered the waterfront area, before finally being placed at the Stella Maris Parish Church, Labuan Bajo.

Acting BPOLBF Director Dwi Marhen Yono, who attended the carnival from start to finish, stated that the event successfully generated positive energy for both the local community and tourists.

He emphasized that the combination of cultural and religious elements, as well as cross-community participation in the carnival, was a clear testament to West Manggarai Regency's rich traditions.

"This Colossal Cultural and Dance Carnival is not just entertainment, but also a forum for fostering camaraderie, promoting the rich culture of West Manggarai, and strengthening Labuan Bajo's image as a world-class tourism destination with cultural and spiritual power," Dwi said on Aug. 13, 2025.

Eren, a carnival member from the Legio Maria Community, recounted his experience participating in the cultural parade filled with cheers from spectators along the route.

For him, the opportunity to perform in public is also a space to strengthen camaraderie and introduce the rich culture of West Manggarai to a wider audience.

"It felt amazing to be able to walk with friends from the communities, showcase local culture, and see the enthusiasm of the people who cheered us on along the way," Eren divulged.

Meanwhile, Tari, a visitor from Ruteng who came specifically to witness the Golo Koe Festival, said she was impressed by the lively event, which combined cultural and religious elements.

She considered the carnival visually beautiful and to have created a warm atmosphere that engaged tourists and all levels of society.

"The carnival was very exciting, the colors were vibrant, and the colossal dances performed by hundreds of participants were truly beautiful. I was happy to experience the rich culture of Labuan Bajo firsthand," she said.

A series of activities had been carried out since the morning prior to the Cultural Carnival at Golo Koe Festival 2025, which has once again been included in the Tourism Ministry's Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) calendar of cultural festivals.

The activities include a joint mass at the Golo Koe Maria Cave which was attended by the congregation in the Labuan Bajo Diocese, and continued with charitable social activities in Warloka Hamlet, Labuan Bajo Subdistrict and the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Labuan Bajo.