While the Irish were celebrating St. Patrick's Day Sunday, March 17, the Indonesian Student Association, Permias, promoted their own cultural awareness at the second annual "Indonesian Night" in the Student Union Theater.
Over 60 members of Permias joined together to celebrate their cultural diversity through music, dance, food and festivities. Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, encompassing thousands of islands, is also known as "Nusantara" which means 'island divided by two continents and two oceans," according to a program distributed at the event.
Lunaso Sudanto, vice president of Permias, said Indonesian culture is distinguished by diversity and its "hospitality and people are great."
Fery Kasiman agreed. "We have one national language, but our culture is very unique."
Following a brief introduction by Permias President Eric Jethrokusumo, the Indonesian flag was displayed to the tune of its national anthem and a short slide titled "My home . Indonesia" was presented. The slides depicted the people, animals and landscape of Indonesia, which is made up of 27 provinces.
Among the other cultural festivities were a traditional Indonesian meal served during intermission and a Balinese dance called "Panji Semirang," which was performed by Maria Kusumadewi, administrative assistant to Jennifer McDonnough, the associate vice president of university development, and her friend, Luna Pinnavaia. Both women expressed their pride in performing traditional dance on stage.
"It felt great to be out there dancing," said Kusumadewi. "It's rare to have the chance to perform our dances for others to see."
After the dance, a costume show took place, choreographed to traditional music and displayed various clothing styles from the different regions of Indonesia. Each model represented one of the 27 provinces and wore vibrant colors such as deep reds, purples, blues and gold. There were also a few ceremonial wedding outfits modeled, including tall hats for men and shawls paired with long skirts for women.
The participants who modeled the clothing were Mohammad Hatta, Lunarso Sutanto, Andy Wijaya, Renita Noviyanti, Erna Mardiana, Quatrina Pohan, Lisa Widodo, Novie Affandi, Cheryl Widjaja, Gayl Adhihusada, Mika Ramhedan and Inge Bukit.
Permias also encouraged audience involvement. In the first act, a musical instrument called an "angklung" was introduced. An angklung is made of two hollow bamboo sticks, which are shaken to produce sound. Each instrument can only play one note, requiring a group of people to make music together.
Dannis Prasadi, a chemical engineering major, and Novie Affandi welcomed Permias members onto the stage to perform "When the Saints Come Marching In." After the song concluded, each audience member joined in together to play "Injit-Injit Semut" using Angklungs.
Jethrokusumo was concerned about turnout for the event, since it was scheduled on St. Patrick's Day and during the beginning of midterm week, but he believed it was a success due to the "management and teamwork."
"I heard from my friends and those who came to the event that the event was very interesting and very well prepared," stated Jethrokusumo, in an e-mail. "Most of them had a big interest in playing the traditional music instrument and were amazed by the traditional martial arts, plus the slide show of Indonesia."
