By Hari Narayana Das
The annual tourism event entitled Festival Pesona Teluk Tomini (FPPT) was centered in the former location of Sail Tomini, Kayubura Village, Pelawa Baru Village, Parigi Tengah Subdistrict, about 75 kilometers from Palu City, capital of Central Sulawesi Province.
Parigi Moutong District is one of the Second Level Regions in the province of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The district capital is in Parigi. Parigi Moutong district covers most of the eastern coast of Central Sulawesi and Tomini Bay.
The Government of Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi, involved a Russian artist at the Tomini Fashion Carnival which was held at the height of the Tomini Gulf Charm Festival (FPPN). Head of Tourism Office of Parigi Moutong Hamka Lagala in Parimo, declared Tomini Fashion Carnaval or parade of regional clothing was a promotion of regional culture to foreign tourists.
“Make the Ratha-yatra festival very great success. This will be a great introduction in your city and people will appreciate it” SPL to Syamasundara, 4th May, 1967.
The carnival was followed by participants from all districts in Parigi Moutong who displayed custom clothing that was designed according to cultural feast and potential of each region. Devotees in central Sulawesi was eager to participate on the event. They approached the committee and proposed to participate the carnival. They all prayed sincerely to Lord Jagannath that they could serve Him in form of Ratha yatra.. The devotees at first felt worried because the carnival only for the participant who dressed in sea species and by the mercy of Lord Jagaanth, one of the committee who already knew the movement of the Hare Krisna Movement in their region massively participate in every event that the government did. The devotees usually did food for live in every event. The news came that their proposal accepted.
“For the present you endeavor to make Ratha-yatra festival grand and successful. You should arrange the procession and procedure so nicely that all the neighborhood people may be attracted to join the procession.” (SPL to Upendra, 1st June, 1968)
Devotees preared the chariot. The chariot is new made carved by Brajanagara prahu in Jember, Eas java. It was chariot that devotes waited for long time. fifty persents of the fund on constructing the chariot was donated by H.H Subhag Swami Guru Maharaj and the other half was donated by central Sulawesi devotees.
On the day of the carnival, the devotees prepared the chariot in front of Mayor office. About 250 devotees from around central Sulawesi came to participate on the event. The chariot team prepared and decorated the chariot nicely.
Around midday the all the contingents walked toward the honoured stage. The mayor and his staffs welcoming them with great applause. When the Lord chariot headed the main stage, the dancer danced joyfully and the mridangga team and the kirtan team sang the Hare Krishna Mahamantra loudly and all audiences who came to see the parade spontaneously give applause and sang Hare Krishna Mahamantra. The mayor also gave standing applause to the performance of the devotees. Devotees distributed maha prasadam of the Lord to the people along the way of the parade.
At the end on behalf of the government, the committee expressed their gratitude to the participation of the devotees on the festival. They also hoped that devotees participated on the same event and other event that the government of central Sulawesi do.
“I thank you all very much for making the Ratha-yatra festival so successful. Please convey my gratitude to all the boys and girls who participated in this great transcendental service.” SPL to Upendra, 4th July, 1968.
We offer our heartfelt gratitude to H.H. Kavichandra Swami and H.H. Ramai Swami, the GBCs of Indonesia, for their encouragement to increase sankirtan; H.H. Subhag Swami for being our inspiration, and to all the wonderful senior devotees of Indonesia for their blessings and constant support.
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