International Students of UAD Participate in Pekan Budaya Tionghoa Yogyakarta 2013
The International students of UAD participated in the 8th Pekan Budaya Tionghoa Yogyakarta 2013 (PTBY) held on February from 20th to 24th, 2013 and centered at Kampung Ketandan (the China town of Yogyakarta) and Titik Nol, Yogyakarta. Those international students, coming from China, Philippines, and Egypt participated in some programs. On Saturday, February 23th they joined carnival along Malioboro with Indonesian traditional costumes from Bali, Flores, Java, East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, Lampung, Palembang, Sulawesi, North Sumatera, and West Sumatera. At finish point on Titik Nol, some of them danced Indonesian traditioanal dance called “Ayun” in front of Sultan (king) of Yogyakarta. The next day, some of them (He Xinxing, Hu Lingxiao, and Guan Zhidan) joined Mandarin poem contest and some others (Ahmed Basyuni, Wei Fumei, Zhou Cailing, and Liu Min) performed Indonesian traditional dance “Kebyok Anting-Anting” on the stage of arts on closing ceremony of PTBY.
PTBY this year has theme “Harmoni Budaya Yogyakarta” (Yogyakarta Cultural Harmony). The specialities of PTBY this year are the mountain of 6.666 Nian Gao (Chinese New Year Cake) and Liong (giant dragon). The mountain of Nian Gao as high as 2.564 meter and its background were formed with four snakes symbolizing fortune many times over. Number 6 is identical to the snake zodiac this year. The giant dragon is the longest dragon in Asia brought by 150 air force personnels and 42 heavy dragon pole (one dragon pole takes two people to lift). Besides, the 8th PTBY id also used to inaugurate Gapura Ketandan (gate of Ketandan) by the governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X.
For international students of UAD, this is a great event. They were really happy to participate in this event, especially when they performed in front of Sultan of Yogyakarta. Jehanie Macasawang, a student of UAD from Philippines, said “The event is great. It impresses me about unity and a culture sharing. Being a part of it is one of amazing cultural immersions one could have.”
