Tobacco Wait Festival, Ganjar Hopes It Can Be An Attractive Tourism Event

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo At The Tobacco Wait Festival, Boyolali, Jakarta (ISTIMEWA)

BOYOLALI - Hundreds of residents of Senden, Selo Boyolali sub-district gathered in the tobacco field, Thursday 3 August. Wearing the best clothes, they went to the fields with joy, the tobacco harvest immediately arrived. Dozens of teenage girls were dressed beautifully. They danced with enchanting gaps. Behind them, lined up jathilan dancers, barongan to rebanan players walked hand in hand with village elders. Hundreds of residents then walked along the village streets on the slopes of Mount Merbabu. Various kinds of earth-based mountains and processed food were also carried along. It is a picture of the Tobacco Tunggk Festival, a tradition that has been held since decades in Senden Village, Selo Boyolali District. The tradition to start the tobacco harvest has remained preserved until now. "This is a traditional procession of Tobacco Tungk, procession to start harvesting tobacco. This is how residents are grateful for the harvest results and hope that the yield of tobacco harvest this year is good," said Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo who was also present at the festival. Ganjar was present to open the Tobacco Tungk festival. He started the festival as the first person to pick the best tobacco leaves. After that, Ganjar also joined the kirbab with hundreds of residents. "This event could actually be made into an extraordinary tourist event. It is a very good cultural procession and must have attracted many tourists," he explained. In addition to interesting traditions and culture, the location of the city of Senden Village is very exotic. Because, the village is located on the slopes of two well-known mountains, namely Merapi and Merbabu. So it can be combined, paragliding destinations can be combined here. So there is, good natural tourism, sport tourism exists and is strengthened with tradition and culture," he explained. Ganjar encourages residents of Send and young children to collaborate to realize it. Higher education is also asked to help provide input on how interesting tourism management is made. "If it is made a tourist event, this would be really good. Not only domestic tourists, foreign tourists will also fill this place," he concluded.

The idea of Ganjar was immediately taken seriously by the Head of Senden Village, Sulasih. He said he would fight to make his village a leading tourist destination. "Because here there is a lot of potential, good nature tourism, we also preserve tradition and culture. We will fight to make this village a favorite tourist spot that will be visited by many tourists," he explained.