There are many West Papua Annual Cultural Festival that you can look forward to every year. These festivals are highly anticipated events by both locals and tourists alike. Through this festival, many people can see the culture of this area more deeply.
The land of Papua, especially West Papua, is known for its abundant natural resources. It turns out that the wealth of West Papua is not only in its natural resources but also in the cultural richness of its people.
Most Anticipate West Papua Annual Cultural Festival
The following are the most anticipated annual cultural festivals in West Papua every year.
1. Just Once a Year Kamoro Festival
Kamoro Festival is held by the Kamoro Tribe, this Guinea festival is only held once a year. The timing of the event depends on the Kamoro Tribe’s own calculations. At the opening ceremony, the men from the Kamoro Tribe will dance the Cassowary Dance.
20 dancers will wear costumes resembling cassowaries with bodies painted in black and white. This dance tells the story of a young man from the Kamoro Tribe who loves a girl.
However, because of their love they did not get the blessing of the father of the woman he loved. This young man fled into the forest and later transformed into a cassowary.
2. Most Popular One, Asmat Festival
If you are looking for the most popular West Papua Annual Cultural Festivals, then the Asmat Festival it’s the right event for you. The Asmat Festival is arguably the most popular in Papua Province. Not only in Indonesia, but this festival is also known throughout the world.
The Asmat Festival consists of a series of events over several days. Starting from the art exhibition of sculptures from Asmat culture, and dances, to the appearance of cultural songs from the Asmat Tribe.
The most anticipated thing from this festival is the auction event for the original statues of the highly valued Asmat Tribe. If you are interested in this event, you can visit West Papua in mid-October.
3. Baliem Valley Festival For Fertility and Welfare
The Baliem Valley Festival is an important event held by the tribes living in the Baliem Valley. This event is a fighting event between the Dani, Lani, and Yali tribes as a symbol of the fertility and prosperity of the valley.
This festival has been held for generations and generations has been a closed event for these tribes. However, now visitors and tourists in the Baliem Valley can also witness the actions of fighters from each tribe.
This West Papua Annual Cultural Festivals is only held for 3 days in August. Currently, this festival is not only attended by tribes who have lived in the Baliem Valley for a long time. About 40 tribes are participating in this festival.
4. Seeing Coastal Culture at the Humboldt Bay
The Humboldt Bay Festival was deliberately held to preserve local culture and attract foreign and local tourists to Papua tourism. The local government plays an active role in financing this festival.
Many events can be followed at this West Papua cultural festival. Starting from dance performances and traditional culture. Exhibition of arts and crafts such as art tools and typical Papuan batik cloth.
Contests are held such as hair weaving competitions and many other competitions related to local culture. If you want to take part in the excitement of this event you must tour Papua New Guinea at first week in August.
5. Beautifull Culture at Sentani Lake Festival
The next most anticipated West Papua Annual Cultural Festival is the Sentani Lake Festival is the most anticipated in this area. At this festival, tourists and visitors have the opportunity to see the local culture firsthand and up close.
Many events and rituals will be held, ranging from Papuan traditional dances performed on a boat, to traditional ceremonies for the coronation of Ondorafi. Not to be missed also the culinary specialties of this region.
Those are the various West Papua Annual Cultural Festivals that you must visit. Save the dates so you can visit at the right time and enjoy the excitement of the festivals.
