Vice President Gibran and Selvi Ananda Enjoy Decorated Boats Before Opening the Kuansing Race Festival

KUANSING - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, accompanied by his wife, Selvi Ananda, rode a decorated canoe to open the 2025 Pacu Jalur Festival on the banks of the Narosa River, Batang Kuantan River, Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Regency, Riau, today.

Aboard a decorated canoe with yellow curtains to block the hot sun, the Vice President, Selvi, and several officials, including Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana and Culture Minister Fadli Zon, greeted enthusiastic residents watching the Pacu Jalur on the riverbank.

"Exciting... exciting," Gibran said, as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, August 20.

According to observations, Gibran, wearing a brown and black batik shirt, arrived at the Pacu Jalur starting point around 1:40 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB). Gibran was greeted by Tourism Minister Widiyanti, Culture Minister Fadli Zon, and Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo, who had already arrived at the location.

At the starting point of the Pacu Jalur (Crucifixion of the Line) race, the Vice President launched the first downstream Pacu Jalur race, which brought together boats from two villages named "Putri Anggun" and "Si Ganteng Ibu Kota."

The Vice President raised and lowered the green flag, marking the start and opening of the 2025 Pacu Jalur Festival, a cultural event that has existed for more than 120 years in Kuansing Regency.

After witnessing several downstream Pacu Jalur races, the Vice President and his entourage boarded decorated boats and greeted the crowd on the right and left banks.

When the boats reached the middle of the river, the Vice President dismounted and moved to the VVIP stage to watch the boat races, with 60 people in each boat.

The crowd had been crowding the banks of the Narosa River on the Batang Kuantan River since morning. According to information gathered, 228 boats participated in this year's race.

The 2025 Pacu Jalur Festival also features cultural and entertainment performances, including Rayyan Arkan Dikha, the viral young pacu jalur dancer who was invited to the Presidential Palace on August 17th.

Unlike previous years, the festival, which runs until August 24th, 2024, also features American rapper Melly Mike, known for her song "Young Black and Rich," on the closing night.

The song has become popular as the soundtrack for various Pacu Jalur videos that have gone viral on social media.