Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The vibrant Pacu Jalur festival, a century-old longboat racing tradition from Kuantan Singingi Regency in Riau, Indonesia, has gone viral on TikTok worldwide, thanks to a popular trend known as “aura farming.”
The trend, which spotlights individuals exuding charisma or “main character energy,” found an unlikely match in the visually striking spectacle of Pacu Jalur. Videos of young boys dressed in traditional Malay attire dancing at the bow of fast-moving boats, synchronized with energetic paddlers and accompanied by thundering festival music have captivated a global audience on the short-video platform.
Rooted in the 17th century, Pacu Jalur originated as a practical mode of transportation and communication between villages along the Kuantan River. Over time, it evolved into a competitive sport and a cultural celebration, now featured as a major annual tourism event under the Indonesian government’s Kharisma Event Nusantara calendar.
The term “jalur” refers to the elaborately carved, narrow wooden boats that stretch up to 40 meters in length. Each boat is propelled by dozens of rowers, known as anak pacu, paddling in perfect unison. The word “pacu” simply means “race,” making Pacu Jalur a longboat race at its core.
The race begins with the boom of three carbide cannons signaling the start, cutting through the noise of thousands of spectators gathered along the banks of the Kuantan River. Each boat is manned by key crew roles including the tukang concang (signal caller), tukang pinggang (helmsman), tukang tari (dancer), and tukang onjay (boat balancer).
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One that attract viewers attention during Pacu Jalur race was the dancers which often children, who stand at the front of the boat executing fluid hand motions and rhythmic swings.
According to Roni Rakhmat, Head of the Riau Provincial Tourism Office, the children have distinct roles depending on the race status. “They’re called the dancers, the timbo ruang, and the tukang onjai. They dance when their boat takes the lead. If the race is still neck-and-neck, they usually just sway to maintain balance,” Roni said in a statement, as reported by Detik.
TikTok videos of these young dancers performing with confidence while maintaining balance have become symbols of aura farming, sparking a flood of memes and recreations worldwide. Viewers are particularly captivated by their fearless energy and dramatic presence, attributes that align perfectly with the aesthetics of the viral trend.
More than just a regional tradition, Pacu Jalur is emerging as a digital-era cultural phenomenon, melding centuries-old heritage with the social media trend of Gen Z.
(Raidi/Agung)
