Indonesian boy’s viral boat dance moves put traditional festival in the global spotlight
Attendance at Sumatra’s centuries-old Pacu Jalur boat race swelled this year after a clip of Rayyan Arkan Dikha, 11, set social media ablaze
Rowers armed with colourful oars pack into long boats in western Indonesia and paddle furiously in front of thousands of spectators, many of whom have been drawn by a young boy whose dancing at the front of the traditional vessels has gone viral.
The annual Pacu Jalur race on Sumatra island ended on August 24, with officials estimating the event attracted as many as 100,000 more spectators this year because of 11-year-old Rayyan Arkan Dikha’s dance moves on the fast-moving boats.
Indonesian national Yuyun Kurnia, 38, travelled from the Sumatran city of Medan, a 17-hour drive away, to watch Pacu Jalur after discovering it through the viral video.
“After it went viral on social media, I want to see Pacu Jalur directly,” she said, adding that it was “amazing” to watch the race in person.
The 20-second clip of Rayyan dancing on the boat has racked up millions of views on social media.