Samosir Regency Government Holds Naposo Gondang Festival Attracts Tourists

Bupqti Samosir Vandiko Gultom at the opening of the Gondang Naposo Festival at Pantai Indah Situngkir, Pangururan District. (ANTARA/HO)

SAMOSIR - The Samosir Regency Government, North Sumatra, held the Gondang Naposo Festival at Pantai Indah Situngkir, Pangururan District, as the first series of the Horas Samosir Fiesta 2022 Calendar Event to attract more tourists to the area.

Samosir Regent Vandiko T. Gultom said that in an effort to increase the flow of tourist visits, there are 3A's, namely Attractions, Accessibility and Amenity.

Performing arts are one of the attractions that are eagerly awaited by tourists who travel to Samosir because the attractions will present What To See, What To Do, so that the Length To Stay of tourists in Samosir will increase.

One of the steps taken by the Samosir Regency Government to attract tourists is to hold various events.

After two years of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Gondang Naposo Festival is the first event to be held this year with the theme "Ho Do Na Hupillit" which is one of the series of events in the Samosir District Calendar for 2022, namely the Horas Samosir Fiesta (HSF) which was launched by the Minister. Tourism and Creative Economy on March 22.

"The Gondang Naposo Festival is one of the most unique, because this event is a place to find a mate through the Tortor dance (Take Me Out Batak Version) which has been known in Batak culture since ancient times," said the Regent, quoted by Antara, Saturday, April 16.

The Gondang Naposo tradition was opened by the elders before it was held and this event also presented a combination of tortors from Suhut (the host) and Panatti (the guests who came).

In addition, this activity is carried out by young people to greet each other, get to know and find a mate.

This festival aims to preserve Batak art and culture which is packaged into a Tourism Attraction, to improve the economy of the local community through the multiplier effect of the event while promoting the excellence of Samosir tourism.

Meanwhile, the Head of Samosir Culture and Tourism Office, Tetty Naibaho, in his report stated that the number of participants was followed by 16 teams from within Samosir Regency and from outside Samosir Regency, namely from North Tapanuli, Humbahas and Medan.

The Naposo Gondang Festival will be held for 2 days from April 16-17 filled with Tortor Contest from Naposo (young people), Folk entertainment, Stand Up Paddle on Lake Toba by SUP TOBA, Vaccination, Screening of the film 'Child of Lake The Series' by Rumah Karya Indonesia and lucky draw.