MTC Media – Malang. Saturday, July 27, 2024, Kelompok Sadar Wisata (POKDARWIS) hosted the Kali Brantas Festival to celebrate National River Day. The festival took place at Kampung Wisata Keramik Dinoyo. According to Mr. Samsul Arifin, the head of POKDARWIS, the festival lasts just one day but features 7 tourist villages in Malang City that are close to the river. It begins at the source of Kali Brantas in Batu, with Kampung Wisata Keramik Dinoyo being the second stop in the series of events. The festival will continue to other villages, concluding at Kampung Warna Warni, with each village having its own theme. At Kampung Wisata Keramik Dinoyo, activities ran from 8 AM to 11:30 AM, focusing primarily on a thanksgiving event.
The Residents’ Expression of Gratitude
The festival is a way for the local community to show their gratitude for the water source. The event highlights various local cultures, featuring attractions such as Kuda Lumping, Traditional Clothing, and Traditional Foods like scrolls. In Kampung Wisata Kramik Dinoyo, the event series included: Arak-arakan Tumpeng Jaranan Kali Brantas, Kenduren Kali Brantas, Jaranan Kali Brantas, Dolanan Jaranan and Ciblon Kali Brantas, as well as an UMKM bazaar and a Dinoyo ceramic exhibition. To ensure everything runs smoothly, five personnel from the 7lung SAR Team were on hand to maintain security and address any potential issues during the river activities.
Local Residents’ Hopes
Haris from the SAR Team shared his thoughts on the activity. He said it’s a fantastic initiative because it helps raise awareness about the river. Instead of just seeing rivers as ordinary water flows, people are beginning to recognize their crucial roles. He hopes that these activities will lead the community to fully appreciate and utilize the river’s potential. Meanwhile, Urifah, Mia, and Emi from the Reading Across The Sky community expressed their hope that Indonesia’s rivers will become cleaner and that people will stop littering them. “WOAHH BIG NO!” Urifah stressed. Mr. Soni Suharto, a local resident, added that it’s important for us to take care of and keep the water clean, as it’s essential for human life. He also highlighted the importance of planting trees to ensure our water sources are preserved.
