Surakarta, in Central Java, will hold the Indonesia Umbrella Festival from Nov. 28 to 30. The festival, organized through cooperation between the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry and Surakarta municipality, is claimed to be the first umbrella festival in Indonesia.

Hundreds of participants from various regions famous for their umbrella craftsmanship, such as Tasikmalaya (West Java), Juwiring-Klaten (Central Java), Surakarta, Bali, Banyuwangi (East Java) and Makassar (South Sulawesi), will take part in the festival, held at the Balekambang Park in Surakarta.

The festival will be enlivened by various programs, such as an umbrella fashion display that will showcase clothing designs with umbrella motifs and an umbrella dance. The festival also includes an umbrella bazaar and exhibition, photography exhibition and an umbrella craft workshop.

According to festival coordinator Heru Mataya, the umbrella has many functions, such as protecting people from the rain and as a complement to a ceremony. As a multifunctional object, it has many benefits which can still be explored and optimized, especially in relation with the creative economy. (***)

source : here