ePalembang

The Annual Bidar Race is well worth including in your plans if you visit Palembang around Independence Day, August 17th. The Annual Bidar Race takes place at Musi River. Sriwijaya Festival every June-July perform cultural attractions and ornamental boat race.

Long time ago, Palembang was surrounded by 108 tributaries and Musi River as its main river. For its area security, fastest boats were needed. The Palembang Sultanate formed river patrol using Pancalang boat. Pancalang means the fastest sailing boat. This boat, according to historian, were the origin of Bidar boat. To conserve it, bidar boat race was held since Palembang Darussalam Sultanate until now. It were called “kenceran” by some local people.

The details description of Pancalang boatcan be found in Indonesian Encyclopedia NV, published by W Van Hoeve Bandung’s Gravenhage. It stated that Pancalang boat used to be functioned as transport vessel and trading vessel on river. It has moveable sunshade of bamboo laths roof, oars rudder and bamboo sticks as oars.

Nowadays, Bidar boat has different shape from previous one. There are two types of this boat : First, the best performance boat. It has length 12,7 meters, height 60 cms, and width 1,2 meters with 22 oarmens.This type usually being shown on annual Palembang’s anniversary, June 17.

Second, the traditional Bidar boat. It has length 29 meters, height 80 cms and width 1,5 meters with 55 oarsmen. This type always being shown on Indonesian Independence Day Anniversary, August 17, which called Festival Musi. There are boat decorating race, bidar race and swimming competition with thousands spectators.