HARIAN KALBAR (SURABAYA) — Pontianak City successfully stole the spotlight in the Light Culture Parade, a Cultural Carnival that was part of the series of the 7th APEKSI National Conference (Munas) in Surabaya, Friday night, May 9, 2025. Bringing up typical icons such as the Equator Monument, Kapuas River, Carbide Cannon, and Aloe Vera, Pontianak presented a colorful costume parade that depicted the richness of its culture and regional identity.
The Mayor of Pontianak, Edi Rusdi Kamtono, along with his wife Yanieta Arbiastutie and the City Government entourage took part in the parade that took place from Jalan Tunjungan to Balai Pemuda, Jalan Gubernur Suryo, Surabaya.
“Alhamdulillah, tonight Pontianak City has succeeded in showcasing a unique culture that reflects the diversity and potential of the region. This is our form of contribution in introducing Pontianak culture to Indonesia,” said Edi after the event.
Pontianak City’s participation in this carnival featured various ethnic and local cultural elements. One of the performances that attracted attention was the Aloe Vera-themed costume — Pontianak’s superior plant which is known to have high economic value and wide benefits, both for health, culinary, and beauty.
The Aloe Vera costume model, Resta Farha (18), revealed that the idea for the costume came from the uniqueness of Pontianak’s Aloe Vera, whose leaf stalks can reach one meter in size. “We want to show that Pontianak’s Aloe Vera is extraordinary, it can be made into drinks, tea, and even chocolate,” she explained.
The local audience also gave high appreciation. Vista (27), a Surabaya resident who attended, admitted to being amazed by the performance from Pontianak. “Really cool! Especially coming from far away. The presence of the mayors is also a rare experience for us, the residents of Surabaya,” she said.
Edi emphasized that the Pontianak City Government is committed to continuing to support cultural preservation through support for local artists and cultural actors. “This is our shared responsibility to maintain and preserve the cultural heritage that we have,” he concluded. (*)