Ganjar Pranowo Fully Supports Wonosobo Air Balloon Tradition In Today's Memory, September 1, 2022

JAKARTA Memories of today, three years ago, September 1, 2022, the Governor of Central Java (Central Java), Ganjar Pranowo fully supports the traditional Wonosobo air balloon tradition. This support arose because the tradition of air balloons contains traces of hard work and cohesiveness.

Previously, the people of Wonosobo made the tradition of air balloons a routine race. The competition is usually held in welcoming Eid al-Fitr and other big days. However, recently the competition was banned.

The tradition of flying hot air balloons is not only present in European countries. Indonesia also has the same tradition. The tradition of air balloons has been the mainstay of Wonosobo residents since the Dutch colonial era.

The tradition of air balloons often plays ahead of big days such as Eid al-Fitr. Local residents also make this tradition their favorite hobby. Everything is because sometimes the existing air balloons contain lots of food and soft drinks. As a result, when a hot air balloon falls, it becomes a fight for local residents.

Recently, this tradition is considered to be disturbing flight traffic. All because the air balloon flies wildly. The balloon is known to sometimes touch an altitude of 35 thousand feet or 10,600 meters above sea level.

This condition made the local government prohibit the tradition of flying air balloons wildly since 2019. Anyone who violates will be fined. This condition received protests from the public.

They asked for a solution so that the traditions that have been carried out for a long time will continue to be sustainable. The idea of tying a balloon is considered a solution.

"In Wonosobo, the tradition of flying hot air balloons has existed for generations, we don't want this unique tradition to just disappear. The district government does not prohibit people from doing this tradition, but do it according to the applicable rules, namely not flying balloons wildly".

"In addition, it also needs to be understood so that people do not have multiple interpretations of understanding the existing regulations. The point is that the socialization process is intended so that there is a understanding and awareness of Wonosobo residents about the importance of safe and controlled flight safety," said Wonosobo Regent Afif Nurhidayat as quoted on the wonosobokab.go.id page, April 8, 2022.

The polemic prohibits hot air balloons from reaching Ganjar Prabowo's ears. The Governor of Central Java immediately moved on September 1, 2022. Ganjar stated that he fully supports the tradition of hot air balloons. He did not want any prohibitions related to tradition.

He witnessed for himself how the ban did not make Wonosobo residents stop flying balloons. Ganjar actually asked the local government to appeal to the existing balloon bunches so that their height was limited and did not interfere with flight traffic.

Ganjar considered that the tradition of air balloons must be sustainable. All because the tradition of air balloons has important value for cooperation and hard work.

"Actually, there have been several times the process of becoming a balloon festival in Wonosobo. I used to remember very well when with the stakeholder team (AirNav) I told them not to be banned, instead they were contested to give gifts. At that time they received an extraordinary welcome. Then how to not disturb the flight, yes tied up."

"Children become creative, and their activities are much more positive. We can actually encourage this to be a spectacle, this event will become a destination later. If the place is well prepared, people will come to see. Earlier there was also a proposal to compete with the governor's trophy prize, okay then," said Ganjar Pranowo as quoted on pagennews.com, September 1, 2022.