Bajawa, NTT (ANTARA) – As many as three major ethnic groups in Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, namely Bajawa, Soa, and Riung, brought traditional attractions at the Ngada Weaving Carnival which opened the 2022 Wolobobo Ngada Festival (WNF) at Kartini Field, Bajawa.
“The traditional clothes of the three main Ngada ethnicities, namely Bajawa, Soa, and Riung, were worn by 2,022 residents in the carnival,” said Ngada Regent Lung Andreas at Kartini Bajawa Square, Saturday (17/9).
In the Ngada Weaving Carnival, the Bajawa performed traditional ritual offerings of the Ngadha community after the various processes of building Sa’o, Ngadhu bhaga or village. The attraction is named Bhey Bhodo.
During the attraction, about 12 men carried a pig’s head and rice in a container and carried it using bamboo. A number of residents wearing Bajawa traditional clothes seemed to move while dancing.
The next attraction was performed by the Soa ethnic group with the Laba Bua Dance. This dance is a type of ceremonial dance with 24 variations that are adapted to the beat of a musical instrument that is beaten which is the hallmark of the Laba Bua Dance.
Lastly, the folk game of manuk-manuk was performed by the Riung ethnic group, the Mulu tribe. The manuk-manuk game is a combination of folk tales, games, dances, and horn-shaped songs.
Each attraction was displayed and followed with enthusiasm by the people of Ngada Regency. In fact, 350 high school students in Ngada also performed a traditional colossal dance with three themes, namely coffee, weaving, and bamboo.
“Everyone dances in our traditional clothes. This is to show that our clothes, which are made from original weaving and local production, must be preserved and sold to the outside world so that everyone can know that Ngada is extraordinary,” said Andreas.
The Wolobobo Ngada Festival has been going on since September 14, 2022, which includes the Wolobobo Culture Camp, the Wolobobo Mountain Walk on September 15, 2022, and the Ngada Culture Walk on September 16, 2022.
Furthermore, the Wolobobo Ngada Festival will be filled with various thematic programs such as the Ngada Weaving Carnival, Bajawa Coffee Party, Ngada Bamboo Week, Weaving Fashion Show, entertainment stage, and MSME exhibitions.
