Jokowi Visits Sumba To Attend Traditional Weaving Festival

WAETABULA, E Nusa Tenggara, July 13 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo arrived in Tambolaka Airport of East Nusa Tenggara Province to attend the Traditional Weaving Festival and the 1001 Sandalwood Horse Festival in Waetabula region. "The president has come to attend the Traditional Weaving Festival and the Samba Horse Festival of Sumba," the Head of District of South East Sumba, Markus Talu said here on Wednesday. According to Talu, the local government presented Jokowi a title of South East Sumba Rato and a parang as an honor. The local administration will also give the president a Sandalwood horse as the highest honor from Sumba region. Talu added that Jokowi also wore Sumba's traditional attire and Lambaleko bonded weaving. Thousands of weaving crafters participated in the festival held in Galatama Field. They wore traditional clothes and purchased traditional weaving equipment. Christina, a crafter from North Kodi District of Sumba, remarked that Jokowi received a warm welcome. "I hope I can meet the president," she stated. Additionally, the Head of Press, Media and Information Office for President Secretariat, Bey Machmudin, noted that the weaving festival was held since May 2017, while the horse festival will be held from July 3 to 12, 2017. After attending the festival in Sumba, the president and First Lady Iriana Jokowi will visit Makassar of South Sulawesi Province, Machmudin added. The president will attend the 70th Anniversary of National Cooperative Day commemoration in Karebosi Field, Makassar. Meanwhile, Jokowi will continue his working visit to Balikpapan, East Kalimantan Province, on Thursday.