Festivals & Events : Ternate to hold Kora-Kora Festival in December

Ternate in North Maluku is set to welcome the year-end holidays by holding the Kora-Kora Festival at the end of December.

The Kora-Kora Festival will feature various activities, including a kora-kora(traditional warship from the Ternate Sultanate) parade, a traditional boat rowing competition, and a fishing competition. Cultural performances will also be featured during the festival, tempo.co has reported.

“[We’ll hold the festival] to make Ternate a year-end holiday destination,” said Samin Marsaoly, the Ternate Culture, and Tourism Agency head.

-Festival Kora-kora

Apart from the Kora-Kora Festival, the city is also known for its history, natural beauty, cuisine, and culture. According to kompas.com, at the Ternate Keraton, for instance, people can find the sacred crown that is decorated with hair, gold, and diamonds. It is said that the hair continues to grow and is cut during a special ritual.

-Sunset at Kastela Beach, Ternate

In terms of cuisine, Ternate also has makan kebun (garden foods) comprising cassava and banana steamed in coconut milk, the famous papeda (sticky sago porridge) and gohu ikan cakalang (diced mackerel or tuna mixed with spices). Such foods are usually served with air guraka (beverage made from ginger, palm sugar, chestnut, milk, and spice-infused coffee).