Kendari - Sail Banda participants will be greeted with various cultural and art performances when they arrive at Wakatobi islands in Southeast Sulawesi on August 13, 2010.
"When the yachts participating in Sail Banda arrive at Wakatobi port on August 13, we will greet them with traditional "Bangka Mbule-mbule performance," Wakatobi district head Hugua said over his cellular phone from Wangi-wangi on Thursday.
Wakatobi is the name of an archipelago located in an area of Southeast Sulawesi, and in the biodiversity hotspot known as Wallacea as part of the Kepulauan Wakatobi National Park. The Wakatobi is also home to Operation Wallacea, a UK based for non-profit conservation group looking at sustainable development of fisheries and coral reef research.
"When the yachts participating in Sail Banda approach Wakatobi, thousands of motorboats and local fishermen`s boats will rally around the yachts and escort them to the port," Hugua said.
He said Bangka Mbule-mbule is the ritual tradition of Bajo ethnic community in Wakatobi to ask for the Creator to bestow the local fishermen with blessing and save them from perils when they go fishing at open sea.
According to him, the Bangka Mbule-mbule attraction to greet Sail Banda participants would be performed by around 10,000 fishermen from various coastal areas in Wakatobi.
"About 1,000 motorboats and fishing boats carrying 10,000 fishermen will greet Sail Banda participants as their yachts approach Wakatobi," Hugua said.
He added that Wakatobi people have also prepared various art performances and dances to greet the Sail Banda participants in Wakatobi.
"Without much to say, the arrival of Sail Bada participants in Wakatobi will be marked with big parties because we have made a special committee to greet them as well as possible to make their visit pleasant," Hugua said.
Hugua also expressed hope that Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would agree on Southeast Sulawesi Governor Nur Alam`s proposal for Wakatobi to host Sail Indonesia 2011. (Uu.O001/HAJM/F001/P003)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com
