get to know the punen tradition of traditional parties in Mentawai,

Mentawai is an archipelago off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Due to their isolation from the mainland, the customs and culture of the Mentawai people are rich in the well-preserved heritage of their ancestors. One of the ways to celebrate the richness of Mentawai culture that is still sustainable is to hold a traditional festival in Punen Mentawai. This event is held every year and is attended by Mentawai people from various tribes and villages. Punen Mentawai Traditional Festival organizes events that are unique and different from other traditional festivals. This event not only features dance and music, but also showcases local wisdom on how to survive on the Mentawai. The Mentawai Punen Traditional Festival begins with the Sungkai ceremony. Sungkai is a period when the Mentawai people really appreciate the spirits of their ancestors. The ingredients of the meal that are prepared are pork, chicken and sago. All dishes are traditionally prepared on bamboo. Once cooked, the food will be brought to the house where the ceremony will take place. All the villagers gather there to open the river together.

Food is offered to the ancestral spirits and is also served to everyone present at the ceremony. After the Sungkai ceremony, the Mentawai people maintain a tradition called joget. Joget is a traditional Mentawai dance performed by adults and children. This dance is usually accompanied by music played on traditional musical instruments such as the matrimonial and the saluang. This dance is performed in groups and the costumes used are symbols of the characteristics of each tribe. The uniqueness of the Mentawai Punen Traditional Festival lies not only in the dance and music performances, but also in the archery competitions. The archery competition is an archery competition held at the Mentawai Punen Traditional Festival. This competition attracts the interest of young people and also young people who want to show their archery skills. This competition usually lasts for one day and the winner who manages to hit the target with the highest accuracy will get a prize. Traditional festivals in Punen Mentawai are unthinkable without culture and art. Mentawai Culture and Arts went through a patent process in 1995 and eventually became an important part of Indonesia's artistic and cultural diversity.

At the Mentawai Punen Traditional Festival, Mentawai youth and women will perform various dances that are part of the well-preserved Mentawai cultural heritage. Interesting dances, such as the respect dance, the flower dance, and the nandao dance, are often performed by young Mentawai. Not only dance and music are the focus of the Mentawai Punen Traditional Festival. There is also a stage for the strength of the Sakuddei tribe in the timber lifting competition. This event demonstrated the extraordinary physical strength of the participants who continually lifted heavy logs. This competition not only shows leadership, but also shows the Mentawai people that despite the passage of time they can preserve their traditions and culture. Apart from the uniqueness of the various attractions and shows, the Punen Mentawai Traditional Festival also bears witness to the wealth of typical Mentawai culinary delights. Traditional dishes like tree and sago, step pak and lime are transformed into a tasty menu. Traditional Mentawai food is prepared over an open fire in a very traditional way and wrapped in banana or bamboo leaves. This traditional food is an integral part of the traditional festival in Punen Mentawai and helps to enrich the overall experience for visitors who want to see how Mentawai customs and culture are still well preserved. The Mentawai Punen Traditional Festival is not an ordinary event that only invites the audience to enjoy music and dance. This event is an important time for all Mentawai to immerse themselves in the culture and traditions of their ancestors, which are still well preserved. Mentawai Punen Traditional Festival showcases the diversity and uniqueness of Mentawai culture and is an event that can inspire everyone to love and preserve more of Indonesia's cultural heritage. This event deserves recognition for the efforts of the Mentawai people in preserving their local wisdom that has been well maintained for decades.