Spectacular Solo Batik Carnival

[caption id="attachment_118984" align="aligncenter" width="298" caption="The 4th Solo Batik Carnival was spectacular. Dozens of thousands of people gather along Slamet Riyadi Road to watch performers with unique batik costumes. Photo credit : Aditya Darmasurya"][/caption] One word to describe this annual event, spectacular! This 4th Solo Batik Carnival (SBC) is spectacular in performance, costumes, design, spectacular in the amount of spectators, and also spectacular in after-show traffic jam! Performed, June 25th at 8 p.m., the carnival was the most crowded show ever hold by Solo City. I predict more than 50 thousand spectators watched the carnival along Slamet Royadi Road. [caption id="attachment_118985" align="aligncenter" width="240" caption="More than 50 thousand people gather along Slamet Riyadi Road, June 25th, night time. Photo credit: Aditya Darmasurya"][/caption] Previous SBCs were a bit boring in my opinion, nothing special but people walking slowly in the afternoon wearing fancy costumes with very least batik on it, questioning where were the batiks if it were to be called a ‘batik carnival’. However, this year's event was dissimilar. First, it was held at night time. Previously, it was held in the afternoon. Second, the theme was appealing, Amazing (Floklore) Legends. This includes the legend of the Queen of the South Sea (Ratu Pantai Selatan), a mystical character famous in Javanese community. Third, the beautiful Puteri Indonesia also took part in the event, making the carnival much more attractable. Forth, I see more uses of batik! The carnival started at 8.30 p.m. and thousands of people were already prepared along Slamet Riyadi Road, the venue was as long as 6 km from Solo Centre Point till Gladag. Many of them had stood by from 6 p.m., such great enthusiasm. It was also noted that not only local citizens came by, local tourists from outer cities and also foreign tourists intermingled in such crowd, aiming to see the carnival. Several hotels even prepared stages and chairs on it, placed beside the road, specially for their guests. [caption id="attachment_118988" align="aligncenter" width="240" caption="The Musical Soldiers of Keraton Surakarta walked by while sounding drums and trumpets. Photo credit: Aditya Darmasurya"][/caption] The Musical Soldiers of Keraton Surakarta walked by while sounding drums and trumpets, marking the initial performance of the carnival. Recently, Keraton Surakarta is trying to be more involved in the city’s event, an effort that needs to be appreciated. Afterwards, there goes performance from dancers grouped into four main ones, each representing one legend. First came the legend of Ratu Kencono Wungu. Second was Ande-ande Lumut. The famous Roro Jonggrang Legend came third, while Ratu Pantai Selatan was the last theme to perform.