REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, WAETABULA -- The presidential protocol has confirmed that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will attend the main event of the Sandalwood Horse Parade Festival in Southwest Sumba District in East Nusa Tenggara's island of Sumba on Wednesday.

"We received the confirmation from the presidential protocol yesterday evening that President Jokowi will attend the main event of the horse parade festival," Southwest Sumba District Head Markus D. Talu remarked here on Tuesday.

Talu said the president is scheduled to arrive at the Tambolaka Airport at 10 a.m. Central Indonesia Standard Time on Wednesday to attend the main event of the Sandalwood Horse Parade Festival that will be enlivened by the "Tenun Ikat" traditional handwoven fabric festival, for which Sumba is also renowned.

The Sandalwood Horse Parade Festival, involving 1001 horses, with their outstanding features, has been held since July 3-4 in East Sumba, on July 5-6 in Central Sumba, on July 7-8 in West Sumba, and to end on July 11-12 in Southwest Sumba.

The 1001 horses and their riders will be seen in various colorful, traditional costumes originating from all across East Nusa Tenggara Province.

Hence, the local people of Sumba Island are highly awaiting the presence of Jokowi since, so far, the president has never set foot on the island, which is famous as the cattle barn of East Nusa Tenggara.

President Jokowi and some of his cabinet ministers have been invited to attend the peak event of the festival, and their presence will serve as a special gift for the people of East Nusa Tenggara Province, especially for those on the island of Sumba, according to East Nusa Tenggara Tourism Office Chief Marius Ardu Jelamu.

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