Indonesian Culture Festival organized at KFU
The Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication of Kazan Federal University together with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Russia hosted the Festival of the Association of Indonesian Students in Russia.
The event was attended by representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Russia: Minister Plenipotentiary Berlian Helmy, Minister Plenipotentiary Nanang Shaiful Fadillah, Defense Attaché and Air Attaché Adi Jatmiko. Guests of the festival included Professor Connie Rahakundini Barki of the Faculty of International Relations of St. Petersburg State University, as well as representatives of the Association of Indonesian Students in Russia.
Timirkhan Alishev, Vice-Rector of International Affairs of KFU, welcoming the participants of the event, noted that Kazan University actively cooperates with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia, participates in international educational exhibitions held in the largest island country in the world. He said that more than 60 Indonesian citizens are currently studying at KFU. In addition, Kazan University is one of the few Russian universities where the Indonesian language is taught, and partnerships are being established with universities in West Java and Aceh province of the Republic of Indonesia.
Berlian Helmy also made a welcoming speech and expressed his gratitude to the management of Kazan Federal University for their support.
Representatives of the Permira Association – students of KFU and other Russian universities – prepared a big concert program, which consisted of musical, dance and theatrical performances reflecting both traditional and modern culture of the peoples of Indonesia. The Mister and Miss Permira contest was also held as part of the festival. At the end of the concert the audience took part in the Do You Know Indonesia quiz.
In the foyer of the assembly hall the guests of the festival could get acquainted with the exhibits – objects of everyday life of Indonesians, try on traditional masks – topengi, Balinese headdress – udeng, and even try national treats – fried bananas, serabi pancakes and other dishes of Indonesian cuisine. Angklung, a bamboo musical instrument native to West Java, was played for the guests. Having performed a small task, the festival participants received a gift of traditional Indonesian jewelry made of shells or wood.
Earlier, KFU celebrated the Day of Indonesian Culture.