Thousands of people from the regencies of Paniai, Deiyai, Dogiyai, as well as from Intan Jaya, Puncak, Puncak Jaya, and Nabire gathered at the Aikai pier, Paniai Timur district, Paniai regency, Central Papua, to witness the Paniai Lake festival, which was officially opened by the acting governor of Central Papua, represented by the Acting Assistant I of the Central Papua Provincial Secretariat, Dr. Menase Kadepa, accompanied by the acting regent of Paniai, Dr. Martha Pigome, and the Paniai Secretary, Denci Meri Nawipa, on Wednesday (23/10/2024) morning.
For the first time, the Paniai Lake festival was held on a large scale and was very lively. The initial idea for the festival came from the head of the Paniai Culture and Tourism Office, Naftali Tebai, along with the head of the Tourism Destination sector, Herman You, and can be organized as part of efforts to introduce the culture of Paniai Regency.
The tourism event took place over two days, October 23-24, 2024, and received appreciation from Dr. Martha Pigome, SH, M.Hum, the acting regent of Paniai. She mentioned that the implementation of this activity demonstrates a concrete effort to preserve and develop the local potential and culture of Paniai Regency. “The Paniai Lake Festival is one of the local government’s efforts through the Department of Culture and Tourism to promote the potential of Paniai Regency,” said Martha.
Lake Paniai witnessed the communities of the Mee, Moni, Wolani, and Auye tribes (MeeMoWoAu) dancing using local boats and speedboats during the first Lake Paniai Festival organized by the Paniai district government through the Department of Culture and Tourism at Aikai harbor.
The opening of the festival was attended by thousands of people with great enthusiasm, including local communities from 24 districts wearing traditional attire. Also attended by the acting governor of Central Papua represented by the Acting Assistant I of the Central Papua Regional Secretariat, Dr. Menase Kadepa, the acting regent of Paniai, and officials from the districts of Paniai, Deiyai, Dogiyai, Intan Jaya, Puncak, Puncak Jaya, Nabire, and Mimika.
“The Paniai Lake Festival is an event organized by the Paniai Regency Culture and Tourism Office, so the local government is promoting tourist destinations in Paniai Regency by utilizing all available resources, especially the local community, which still upholds noble values and customs to this day,” said Pigome.
This festival is a tangible manifestation of a joint commitment to promote the tourism and cultural potential of Central Papua, particularly the beautiful Paniai Lake area.
Based on Law number 10 of 2009 concerning tourism, which mandates that tourism must be managed sustainably and based on natural diversity, culture, and local wisdom, the implementation of this festival is in line with regional policies and regulations aimed at improving community welfare.
According to Martha Pigome, at that moment, her team will convey to the outside world that the Paniai Regency also has extraordinary cultural and tourism assets that are just as important as those in other regions.
“So today and tomorrow, October 23-24, the Paniai Lake cultural festival is being held, and it is hoped that everything we do will have an impact on the community in the development of people’s economy as well as the development of regional culture and tourism,” he said.
The acting regent of Paniai stated that he will lay the foundation for culture and tourism so that festivals can continue to be held in the future. He admitted that in 2025, funds will also be allocated for the festival activities, which will be held more grandly.
“I hope that with the first Lake Paniai Festival having been held, it will continue in the following years.” “Because this is a people’s party to encourage economic development for the community,” said Martha.
Meanwhile, Naftali Tebai, the chairman of the Paniai Lake Festival committee, explained that on the second day, they held several competitions, including folk tales from the four tribes of Mee, Moni, Wolani, and Auye. “We held competitions, folk tales, showcased traditional tools, and then the Yuwo, emaida, and stone-burning traditional feasts.” This is the custom and culture of the Mee, Moni, Wolani, and Auye tribes who reside in the Paniai district,” explained Tebai.
The Acting Governor of Central Papua, represented by the Acting Assistant I of the Central Papua Provincial Secretariat, Dr. Menase Kadepa, stated that the tourism sector can become a pillar of economic development that not only impacts economic growth but also the preservation of the environment, culture, and traditions, and encourages economic growth in Paniai Regency.
“The festival being held has artistic and cultural value. It can encourage the community, especially the younger generation, to participate and innovate in creating new works, as well as provide knowledge and appreciation to participants with innovative and creative ideas,” he said.
It is hoped that in the future, cultural festivals can combine traditional culture with modern technology to create new innovations in cultural presentation, such as the use of visual projections or interactive technology to depict traditional stories.
In the context of regional development, Law number 23 of 2014 on regional governance regulates the development of regional potential, including tourism, which is one of the responsibilities of the local government in improving the welfare of the community. With Law number 15 of 2022 on the establishment of the Central Papua province, this festival is expected to introduce and promote the potential of Lake Paniai and the wealth of Central Papua, thereby driving local economic growth and creating jobs for the people of Paniai Regency.
Through this festival, local culture and traditions can be introduced to the younger generation, and journalists can disseminate them throughout the archipelago and internationally.
The acting governor stated that this is very important to ensure that cultural heritage remains alive and continues to be valued by future generations. Because the benefits of entertainment culture for society include enhancing nationalism by showcasing wealth and becoming one of the nation’s attractions, tourism for both national and international tourists can bring income to the local community. Including cultural music festivals, film festivals, traditional food festivals, and other local art and cultural festivals.
This MeeMoWoAu Festival, he continued, serves to enhance the stability of the social system in the community by allowing tourists to learn about and recognize unique cultures, understand the history and philosophy of the traditional rituals showcased in the festival, and enrich the community’s knowledge of local, national, and modern arts and culture.
“With the aim of this festival to elevate local cultural potential, and the festival not only entertains the community but also attracts tourists,” he said.
The acting governor of Central Papua strongly supports the implementation of the Paniai Lake Festival, as it not only showcases the beauty of nature and culture but also makes a tangible contribution to supporting the sustainable regional development targets in accordance with Presidential Regulation No. 18 of 2020 on the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), which prioritizes the development of the tourism sector as one of the pillars of national economic development.
https://suarapapua.com/2024/10/26/pemkab-paniai-sukses-selenggarakan-festival-danau-paniai-pertama/
West Papua Now 