Theme of Tanah Lot Baleganjur Festival 2015

On the upcoming July 3-5, the management of Tanah Lot Tanah tourist attraction will hold the Tanah Lot Baleganjur Festival 2015. It will last for three days where two days will be used to festival and another day for the announcement of the winners and conferment of the awards. On the first day, it will feature 11 gamelan troupes and 12 gamelan troupes on the second day. “The festival is meant to preserve Balinese culture becoming the characteristic of Balinese personality,” said Operations Manager of Tanah Lot, Toya Adnyana.

The festival will feature the theme ‘Mahabharata,’ while the costumes will highlight the theme ‘classical checkered.’ “In other words, it will highlight the classical entity, not the luxury. All this time, the baleganjur festival is synonymous with luxurious and festive costumes. Tanah Lot is trying to change the mindset of people that the baleganjur does not only display the luxury of costume,” he said.

Classical costumes characterize the cultural values of Balinese Hindu, while baleganjur can still become an interesting presentation. It cannot only be enjoyed by local people, but also by domestic or international travelers. “Do not forget, now there is a trend among travelers, especially foreign travelers, where they are getting more interested in seeing the very rare and classical things that can be found in the country,” said Toya Adnyana.

Amid of festival, the community will also be presented with a culinary and agate exhibition remaining to be at issue in recent years. Culinary exhibition presents various typical snacks of Tabanan County being famous as the rice granary of Bali, such as laklak pisang and klepon. Besides, there are also various types of handicrafts denoting typical products of Tabanan, herbal products, and ornamental plants.

During the festival takes place, it will be filled with some art performances entertaining people like the Wayang Joblar (puppet show), Bondres Akah Canging, Lawak Sengap et al, and Women Gong Kebyar performance having made appearance in the Bali Arts Festival (BAF) representing the Tabanan County. (BTN/015)