ASEAN Leaders Don Traditional Songke Manggarai Woven Shirts on 2nd Day of ASEAN Summit
ASEAN leaders’ group photo session in Labuan Bajo, Thursday (05/11). (Photo by: ASEAN2023 Host Photographer)
ASEAN leaders donned traditional songke Manggarai woven shirts on the second day of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara province on Thursday (05/11).
Songke is a woven fabric unique to the people of Manggarai inhabiting the western part of East Nusa Tenggara’s Flores island. It is an obligation to don this fabric during traditional events, including during festivities (penti), opening of farming fields (randang), and deliberations (nempung).
This fabric generally has a black background color and vibrant colored embroideries, such as red, white, orange, and yellow. Each pattern embodies Manggarai people’s purpose and hope related to welfare, health, as well as good relationships between humans, between humans and nature, and between humans and God.
On that occasion, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo donned a blue woven shirt, while other ASEAN leaders donned woven shirts with various colors.
President Jokowi and other ASEAN leaders joined hands for their group photo session with a phinisi boat on the background. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (DH/MUR)
