President Jokowi Joins Tana Tidung Residents to Plant Mangrove

Upon his arrival, President Jokowi wears traditional headband called sesinggal tidung from Tana Tidung regency (19/10/2021) (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat’s Press, Media, and Information Bureau/Laily)

Upon arriving in Bebatu village, Sesayap Hilir district, Tana Tidung regency, North Kalimantan province for a working visit, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Tuesday (19/10) was welcomed by a traditional ceremony called tepung tawar.

Tribal chief of Tidung Armansyah Ali along with tribal chief of Brusu Hendrik were seen welcoming President Jokowi after getting off the speedboat that carried him and his entourage.

On the welcoming ceremony, the tribal chief sang and recited shalawat (a chant praising Prophet Muhammad), splashed water, and gave a traditional headband called sesingal tidung to the President.

For the record, in local language, people called the ceremony as timug bensaluy.

“Timug means water, bensaluy means a thing that makes something colder. Yellow rice is a symbol of majesty in Kalimantan as an expression of gratitude to comers,” Armansyah said.

Afterward, President Jokowi planted mangrove with local community, environmental activists, and several ambassadors of friendly countries.

A number of high-ranking officials including Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Governor of North Kalimantan Zainal Arifin Paliwang, and Regent of Tana Tidung Ibrahim Ali were also present at the event. (PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARIAT/UN) (AP/MUR)