TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Riau Provincial Tourism Office is optimistic that the Pacu Jalur 2025 event, which is scheduled to be held on August 20-24, 2025, at Tepian Narosa, Teluk Kuantan, Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing), Riau, will see a surge in visitors. This is driven by the growing popularity of Pacu Jalur after the "aura farming" video of the boat race participants attracted global attention on social media.
The viral phenomenon of aura farming is associated with the performance of young dancers in the traditional boat race of Pacu Jalur. The performance has gained worldwide recognition under various titles, including "Boat Kid Aura Farming" and "Aura Farming Kid on the Boat."
This phenomenon has sparked the curiosity of netizens from various countries. Many international TikTok users have created meme videos imitating the cool or badass movements of the young rowers on the "jalur," locally known as the distinctive wooden long boats of Kuantan Singingi, Riau. The video is accompanied by the song "Young Black & Rich" by Melly Mike, which adds to the energetic atmosphere.
The Head of Riau's Tourism Office, Roni Rakhmat, said Pacu Jalur is solidifying its position as the main magnet for cultural tourism in Riau and even in Indonesia.
"Certainly, this is an extraordinary pride for us, for Riau, and especially for Kuansing. It proves that our local culture has universal appeal and can be recognized globally," said Roni.
Getting to Know Pacu Jalur
Pacu Jalur is a traditional boat-rowing race typical in the region. "Jalur" refers to a wooden boat made from specific types of wood in certain forests.
The colorful atmosphere is created through the costumes of the rowers, cheering, and the sound of cannon fire to signal the start of the race. Interestingly, Pacu Jalur also has a historical record from the colonial era.
During the Dutch colonial period, Pacu Jalur was part of traditional celebrations and commemorations of the birth of Queen Wilhelmina on August 31. The Pacu Jalur race was held for two to three days, depending on the number of participating "jalur."
This tradition has been preserved to this day and has become a regular agenda for the Riau Provincial Government to attract both domestic and foreign tourists.
Roni stated that Pacu Jalur is an Intangible Cultural Heritage recognized nationally by the Ministry of Culture since 2014.
Antara contributed to the writing of this article
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