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Siak Bermadah 2024 Has Potential to Become an International Event
WINDONESIA October 16, 2024
Siak Bermadah Festival 2024. (Riau Province Media Center)
The 2024 Siak Bermadah Festival, held to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Siak Regency in Riau Province, was officially opened on Oct. 9, 2024. The festival was included for the first time with 110 other local events within the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry's Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2024 program.
The festival which took place at the Siak Bermadah Field in the non-administrative town of Siak Sri Indrapura, Riau Province was attended by thousands of people and invited guests, including Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry Expert Staff Fadjar Hutomo.
"I am impressed with the Siak tagline, 'Siak he Trully Malay'. The festival not only reflects a love of art and culture, but it also symbolizes the preservation of the unique regional culture in Siak Regency," he said.
Fadjar added that the Siak Bermadah Festival has the potential to become an international event by inviting friendly countries such as Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.
"After I witnessed it myself, the festival can be optimized and upgraded to an international standard, so that Siak truly becomes a true [center of] Malay culture," he said.
The 2024 Siak Bermadah Festival, which took place from Oct. 9 to 12, 2024, presented various interesting activities such as artistic performances, a creative economy bazaar attended by 59 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), a mini stage, and street food offerings.
In addition, the festival also presents traditional games of the Malay people, heritage tours, as well as cultural activities such as river tracing.
There is also a performance by Malaysian musician Baby Shima, and the closing ceremony was enlivened by Jakarta musician Charlie Van Houten. A total of 29 arts and culture studios participated in the event to showcase Siak's lasting artistic wealth.
"I am very happy to be able to witness the Siak Bermadah Festival live. This event really makes us love Malay culture even more," Nuraini, a visitor, said.
Moreover, the MSME and local culinary bazaar at Siak Bermadah Festival involved MSMEs from various regions in Siak Regency exhibiting their leading products, ranging from handicrafts, traditional foods, to traditional clothing.
"The bazaar really helps us to promote our MSME products. Hopefully our products will be better known by the wider public with a festival like this," MSME owner Ita said.
Additionally, the river tracing and heritage tour activities aim aims to introduce the natural beauty and history of Siak to visitors.
Acting Siak Regent Indra Purnama admitted in his speech that he was proud to see the enthusiasm of Siak Regency's people in supporting Siak Bermadah Festival 2024.
"Happy 25th birthday to Siak. Hopefully in its 'silver year', Siak will continue to advance and develop as well as be better known both nationally and internationally through the cultural heritage that we preserve together," Indra said.
He also hopes that the festival could continue to produce talented artists from Siak who can excel at the national and international stage.
"We will continue to strive to develop the tourism potential of Siak Regency, including by holding events like the Siak Bermadah Festival," Indra concluded.
Source: mediacenter.riau.go.id