Pacu Jalur: All About Indonesia's Popular Boat Race

By: NDTVNewsDesk

Image: facebook/SEAheritagehistory

Pacu Jalur is a traditional Indonesian longboat race held annually on the island of Sumatra.

Image: facebook/SEAheritagehistory

It's a cultural festival featuring elaborately carved and decorated boats with traditional dancers.

Image: facebook/SEAheritagehistory

The event draws large crowds from across Indonesia and beyond.

Image: facebook/SEAheritagehistory

The boats, called jalur, are long, wooden boats that can be 25-40 meters in length and require 40-60 paddlers.

Image: facebook/SEAheritagehistory

The festival is deeply rooted in the local culture and has been designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indonesia.

Image: facebook/SEAheritagehistory

It involves a large number of people, including the rowers, dancers, drummers.

Image: facebook/SEAheritagehistory

A young boy, who stands at the bow of the boat and effortlessly performing cool moves, has recently become a viral sensation.

Image: X/@sriramsrirangm

The race has a long history, dating back to the 17th century, and was originally held to commemorate important events.

Image: facebook/SEAheritagehistory

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