Made Arya

Cultural Festival Shows A Different Side of Bali

Denpasar. Vacationers associate Bali with world-class resorts and beaches. The Denpasar administration hopes a cultural festival will open tourists’ eyes to another side of the country’s premier tourist destination.

Local officials on Monday launched the second Denpasar Festival, with the aim of promoting the province’s diverse cultural and natural offerings.

The four-day festival includes a fair along Jalan Gajah Mada, the provincial capital’s main commercial area, as well as a culinary festival, a floricultural exhibit, an exhibition of textiles and an event called the “Denpasar Great Sales.”

Denpasar Mayor Ida Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra said the festival’s organizers were looking not only to promote local culture, but also to encourage residents to develop their creativity.

“We want these creative ideas to be preserved, and one way to do that is through this festival,” Rai Mantra said as he opened a carnival on Jalan Gajah Mada as part of the festival.

The inaugural event, called the Gajah Mada Festival, was held last year, but Rai Mantra said city officials decided to change the name this year because the festival had taken on a broader scope.

This year’s festival, organized under the theme “Embracing the Future,” will also include musical performances and competitions in modern sports and traditional games.

Rai Mantra said the festival was organized during the peak year-end tourist season in order to acquaint more people with the local culture.

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