Helarfest 2009 has officially closed!

At a parking lot of a state electricity company, the Cikapundung Festival was held on December 13 2009 to officially end the 2009 Helarfest. More then 60 events were held, 57 between them was held successfully by more then 30 of Bandung’s creative community that was officially opened on October 17 2009. The most hectic 2 months of Bandung. See you later next year!

On the afternoon the day before, the community of 2009 Helarfest’s participants gathered to commence the Carnival Closing Helarfest 2009. “This carnival is a closing ritual that is partaken by all the participants involved in the Helarfest 2009 event before this well-known yearly event of Bandung is finally closed,” explained by the Carnival Closing’s own coordinator, Pramudya Tirta Pratama. The parade started at 15.00 from Jalan Tirtayasa, then proceeded to Jalan Merdeka towards Braga, ending at Jalan Cikapundung Timur, where the Helarfest closing was held at nighttime. Additionally near the said parking lot, is a port leading to Sungai Cikapundung , a river that also serves as Bandung’s very own icon, which is sadly currently not responded by it’s own townsmen.

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The events that night began with beating sounds from music instruments from the Komunitas Jendela Ide and Tataloe Percussion UPI, which then send off the release 2.009 paper boats with candles on top, using easily dissolved paper so as to not pollute the river. The unique point of the event was when Garing Mania Sampai Mati (Ganiati) from Universitas Pasundan, arrived with unique and eye-catching costumes, performing theatrical actions that attracted laughter from the audiences. As if a ‘dance battle’ with a group of people from Bikers Brotherhood, they each took turns in dancing with traditional Sundanese music and Jaipongan dancers in the background.

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Amongst those who gave welcoming speeches, were Dede Yusuf, Vice Governor of West Java, accompanied by Ema Sumarma, Kadis Indag  as well as Kabag Ekonomi Kota Bandung, representing the Governor of Bandung. Lastly, the main stage was moved to a more opened space, presenting performers from Airplanesystem Free Running and sexy dancers escorted by DJ Double Dee. The year 2010 being  Bandung’s 200th anniversary, many hope to see the next Helarfest hold 200 events. As Ridwan Kamil, Head of Bandung Creative City Forum, acting executor of Helarfest, would say, “In order to fulfill that, we must first be certain. It is after then that we should work hard to actualize it all.”
 
 

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  1. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by imam wiratmadja and Helarfest Bandung, tita larasati. tita larasati said: RT @foldmagazine Report from Helarfest 2009 Closing Ceremony. http://bit.ly/8E94Gp #helar [...]

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