KALIMANTAN

KALIMANTAN

WEST KALIMANTA N

Hudog Dance at a Rice Field, Kalimantan.

Pontianak, the capital city of West Kalimantan Province, lies exactly on the equator. Pontianak was founded in 1771, during the reign of the Sultan of Pontianak. This province covers a total area of 146,879 square kilometers. The population is about three million people with a density of 19 persons per square kilometer. The average population growth is 2.55% per year. The native people of this region are the Dayaks and the Melayus.

CENTRAL KALIMANTAN


Ngaju Soul shipThe capital city of this province is Palangka Raya. The region covers a total area of 153, 800 square kilometers and consists of thick tropical forests, swamps, lakes, and rivers. The province has a total population of nearly 2 million people, with the native people of the Dayaks. There are many others ethnic groups who live in this province, including the Javanese and the Maduranese.

EAST KALIMANTAN


Rumah Lamin
Traditional house of East Kalimantan

The capital city of East Kalimantan Province is Balikpapan. This province is very rich with natural resources, such as oil and gas. The native people of this province is the Dayaks.

The people of East Kalimantan have traditional dances that are performed for certain events, including Erau Pelas Talun (Cleaning the village), Tepung Tawar (Welcoming the visitor), Kelebur Bejamug (Farewell ceremony), Erau Padi/Bob jengen/Bunut (Harvesting ceremony), Meniwa (Thanking God), Belian (Healing of sick people), and Kwangkay (Burial ceremony).

SOUTH KALIMANTAN
Banjarmasin is the capital city of South Kalimantan Province. This province covers a total area of 37,000 square kilometers. It consists of swamp, coastal and lowland plains that are usually stagnant with tides and flood.

The population of this province is approximately 3 million people, predominantly are Islams. Banjar people are the native of this region.

There are some traditional events that have strong Muslim influence. One is the Batamat, in which a special ceremony is held when a grown-up child has finished studying the Quran recitals. The other is the Tasmiyah, a name-giving ceremony to a newborn baby.