New Taipei celebrates Indonesian culture with festival
New Taipei celebrates Indonesian culture with festival
New Taipei City Government and the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan held the “2015 Indonesian Culture Festival” today at the Citizen’s Square. Mayor Eric Chu attended the event and wore traditional Indonesian clothing. The Mayor also participated in the Ginger Rice blessing ceremony to pray for the citizens of both countries. The event also featured Indonesian traditional dance and rock band performance. The Indonesian residents of New Taipei City were able to reminisce about their hometown traditions and culture.
During his speech, the Mayor first thanks all of the Indonesian friends in attendance, the mayor says Indonesia is Taiwan’s important allie in trades, economy, and society. Various Indonesian senators, governors, and other officials have visited New Taipei City before, the mayor continues. The mayor says that he appreciates the help and support that Indonesia has shown New Taipei City in the past.
Mayor Chu says that there are currently 36,000 laborers and 4,000 immigrants from Indonesian living in New Taipei City. These 40,000 people, the mayor says, are part of New Taipei’s identity, and New Taipei City is culturally more exciting because of a diverse demography. The Mayor adds that Indonesian culture is an important part of New Taipei City’s diverse culture set, and the he hopes the annual Indonesian Culture Festival can help educate the residents on the Indonesian culture. The mayor looks forward to continual growth and success of the annual event and hopes that the Indonesians living here can find the city more and more friendly.
During the event, the organizer invited performance group REGO to open the event with a traditional dance of blessing, which asks for blessing for both countries and their citizens. Next, the Mayor and the Indonsian Representative in Taiwan (Mr. Arief Fadilah) both partake in the Yellow Ginger Rice blessing ceremony. The mayor took some of the rice off of the top and presented to Mr. Fadilah as a sign of friendship and a sign of appreciation from New Taipei City.
The Labor Department reports that the Indonesian Culture Festival is jointly organized by New Taipei City and the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan. Aside from performances from Indonesian dance team and popular rock band, the Workforce Development Agency, the Immigration Agency, Public Health Department, and other agencies have set up stations to provide information, free haircut, massage, and health checkup. The event also had a drawing for gifts with many Indonesians friends, new residents, and others participating.
For more information: Labor Department, Leyang Xia; Phone: 1999 Or (02)2960-e456 ext. 6487.