Meet the Indonesian boy, 11, who has become world-famous for his ‘aura farming’ boat race dance

GOING VIRAL AND IMPACT ON LOCALS

Last year, about 1.4 million people attended the race. 

Authorities have high hopes that this year’s event will draw similar numbers and have a ripple effect on the local economy.

The theme of this year’s event is: Pacu Jalur going global, micro, small, and medium enterprises are increasingly prosperous.

Azhar said that if one person spends at least 100,000 rupiah per day, the event would generate at least 100 billion rupiah.  

Twenty-year-old Dwita Federentina, an iced tea seller is among those hoping to cash in. 

Despite being from Riau’s capital Pekanbaru, some 170km or five hours drive away from Kuantan Singingi regency, she decided to set up a small stall at the Pacu Jalur venue on the suggestion of an acquaintance.

“Thank God people buy my drinks. The money is better here,” she said. 

She earns about one million rupiah per day, which is five times her daily earnings in Pekanbaru.

Yesi Sarwina, 40, hails from the same village as Dhika, Pintu Gobang.

She has been selling drinks and snacks at the annual Pacu Jalur event for years, and said this year’s crowds are much larger than previous years. 

“Hopefully, the following years will attract even bigger crowds… and locals can earn more income.”

She managed to earn about 1.5 million rupiah daily this year, compared to about 1 million rupiah last year.