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The 2025 Batanghari Festival presented both contemporary and traditional performances, from modified boats with Angso Duo motifs, Jambi Malay customs, to boat dances.
A meaningful spectacle was displayed during the decorated boat parade as part of the festival held on the Batanghari River, specifically at the Bhara Tirta Kencana Pier of Angso Duo Baru Market in Jambi City, Jambi Province on Aug. 3, 2025.
This year's Batanghari Festival was officially opened by Jambi Governor Al Haris, launching the parade of decorated boats from the pier.
Dozens of boats were displayed, including small ketek vessels local to the southern waterways of Sumatra. The Jambi Provincial Government also participated, with every three Offices of the local government backing a decorated boat.
A highlight of the event was the unique 'Gawe Gadis Dusun Mandi di Sunge' dance performance on a boat supported by the Jambi Province Regional Inspectorate.
The dance captivated the audience with its strong traditional cultural nuances and meaningful depiction of the lives of the Jambi riverside communities.
"This dance is just as captivating as the current popular ones; the dancers are agile and their movements are synchronized and organized," said Raden, a parade spectator.
Equally captivating was the Tebo Regency's boat, which successfully captured the attention of the audience thanks to the captivating performance by the Jambi Cinema Talent Studio.
The talented young dancers displayed modern choreography combined with traditional elements, creating a lively and energetic floating stage atmosphere.
Coupled with the ship's magnificent and colorful ornaments, the Tebo Regency's decorated boat stood out and became a favorite among the audience that afternoon.
"It's true that dances are currently trending. A regency like Tebo also showcases traditional dances. We've been really impressed by the Batanghari Festival, which is different from last year," added Raden.
The visitor hopes that Batanghari Festival 2025 will reaffirm its role as a leading cultural and tourism event in Jambi Province, showcasing the collaboration of arts, culture, and creativity from the various regencies and cities in the province.
The decorated boat parade symbolizes the collective spirit in celebrating the identity and cultural richness of the Batanghari River, which has historically been the lifeblood of the Jambi people.
Jambi Province Culture and Tourism Office Head Imron Rosyadi stated that thousands of visitors packed the festival ground to welcome the occasion's lively first night, which featured entertaining performances of Jambi's arts, culture, and music.
"This week-long festival promises a variety of exciting activities every day. From dance and music to cultural exhibitions and decorated boat parades, everything is designed to celebrate the rich local culture of Jambi Province," he said.
The mission of Batanghari Festival 2025, which is listed in the Tourism Ministry's Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2025 calendar of cultural festivals, is to revitalize local culture as a vital part of Jambi's tourist attractions.
"We want to revive art and culture in Jambi Province as part of our tourism strategy. If tourists just visit without seeing any attractions, they'll surely get bored," he stressed.
Batanghari Festival 2025 also involved hundreds of local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which offered a variety of products, from culinary specialties to unique handicrafts.
