KBRN, Siak: Thousands of residents, from children to adults, donned vintage attire to join the 2025 Lalang Festival Tempo Doeloe Carnival in Siak, Riau, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

Participants paraded in traditional clothing while performing music, dances, and showcasing old-fashioned paraphernalia, recreating the warm and lively atmosphere of a bygone village life.

Siak Regent Afni Zulkifli encouraged residents to reflect on their childhood in their hometown, when simplicity taught sincerity and the beauty of life.

“The Lalang Tempo Doeloe Festival reminds us of the simplicity of village life. Even though it is simple, it looks cool,” Afni said.

He stressed that preserving traditions is vital to strengthening a sense of belonging to Kampung Lalang, Sungai Apit subdistrict, and Siak regency as a whole.

“This simplicity is also our spirit today. Hopefully, this event will deepen our love for Kampung Lalang, Sungai Apit, and Siak,” he added.

Afni also reminded the community of the importance of protecting the village environment from natural threats, particularly riverbank erosion, to safeguard cultural heritage and ancestral graves.

“I am concerned to see the eroded roadsides and the sea creeping closer to people’s homes. Many houses have already fallen into the sea. This is a test for us from nature,” he said.

He warned that while residents might find new land if their gardens are lost, ancestral graves cannot be replaced.

“If we lose our gardens and land, perhaps we can still find another place. But if we lose our mother’s grave, our village, where else will we go to live and make pilgrimages?” he continued.

Afni praised the active role of the community, especially the younger generation, in keeping traditions alive through the carnival. He expressed hope that the Tempo Doeloe Lalang Festival Carnival would continue to be held annually.

Along the carnival route, participants displayed cultural attractions ranging from traditional children’s games and household items of the past to local arts. The strains of village music and dance accompanied the procession, creating an authentic and warm cultural atmosphere.

The carnival also marked the opening of the five-day Lalang Festival 2025, featuring a series of cultural performances and traditional entertainment for the community. ***