Royal Indonesia Festival opened 26 November

26 November, one of the 2 big royal festivals of Indonesia;the Festival Keraton Nusantara VII(FKN VII);has been opened in the city of Palembang in South-Sumatra.
The host wil be Sultan Iskandar Mahmud Badaruddin of Palembang (one of the 2 sultans here) and the local government.
It will be attended by 108 dynasties and ruling families and it was the plan to let it open by President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono of Indonesia.
The festival is organised by 4 of the 5 royal organisations in Indonesia;namely:
Forum Informasi dan Komunikasi Keraton Nusantara(FKIKN), Asosiasi Kerajaan dan Kesultanan Indonesia(AKKI), Forum Kerajaan dan Kelembagaan Adat Sulawesi (FKKAS;a royal organisation focussed namely on the Bugis,Makassarese and Mandar area on Sulawesi),
and Forum Silaturahmi Keraton Nusantara(one of the 2 organisations with that name).

The festival;a display of culture and history of Indonesia;a country with ca. 300 imperial, royal and princely dynasties;will last from 26-28 november and will be for the most part open for the general public.
Such royal festivals are very unique matters in Asia and has a stimulating effect on the consousness of the people of Indonesia for their own local culture in this so-called modern time.
We hope to provide in due time more information about this royal Indonesia festival in due time.

DP Tick gRMK
I. Festivana

American high computer specialist becomes King in Indonesia

On the 19th of november 2010 a man of Indonesian origin was coronated as the 21th Sultan of Bacan;an Indonesian island group in the North-Moluccans. Sultan Dede Muhammad Gary Ridwan Sjah.
His father Sultan Alhaji Dede Muhammad Gahral Adian Sjah was sultan of bacan from 1983 until he died 21-9-2009. He was also the districtchief (Bupati) of Central-Halmaherah.
The son of this sultan already went at a young age to the USA and could make there a quite succesfull career as an computer specialist;now living in the state of Ohio.
Because his father the deceased sultan was quite loved by his people, they asked him to become their new king.
In the beginning he thought, that would be quite a problem to combine his high job in tne USA with his dignity as king of Bacan.
The sultanate of Bacan is not an automatic from father to son monarchy, but an elective monarchy,where the 4 royal clans elect from within the dynasty a good candidate for the throne.
The new sultan however already was known as a quite loving and caring prince for the Bacan people,so the local nobility insisted, that he would become their new king.
The new sultan is also known for his quite humbkle acting, so immediately he is now loved by his people.
After Sultan Dede Muhammad Gary Sjah was coronated with the centuries old crown and given the very old royal digity stick with golden knob in his hand (Tongkat Sultan)he was declared as the 21th sultan of Bacan.
Before Sultan Zainal Abidin Sjah was made before 1512 the 1st sultan of bacan, there were already non-muslim kings in Bacan,which once was seen as the most important kingdom in the North-Molccans and even in the total Moluccans,with even influence in the the Papua areas.
After the coronation the sultan,who is married with the also of course attending Sultana Boki Winy Sjah;returned to the USA. In the mean time the royal court organised the big festivites and royal reception for a later date,which would be attended by many king and rajas of Indonesia.
That the Almighty and Loving God will help this good sultan of Bacan to lead his people.

Amin.

N.B. :The picture was given by Mr. Wanda Poejangga;member of the royal court of Bacan.

Donald - Festivi