PONTIANAK PRESERVES CULTURES WITH CANNON FESTIVAL

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 25 (Antara) -  Amid the spread of  terror threats,  a bang will scare people if it comes from a bomb blast. However, it will amaze them  if it is used  to enliven a festivity.          Thus, the bangs of firecrackers for instance, which decorate the sky with lively colors during a festivity such as during a New Year's Eve and others, will entertain residents.      In local traditions, people use different means to produce bang sounds in enlivening a festivity. Bambo cannon, apart from firecrackers, is the most popular to mention one.  It is used in different parts of the country, even in other countries such as in Malaysia and the Philippines.         In Pontianak, the provincial capital of West Kalimantan, people also use carbide cannon beside bamboo cannon.     West Kalimantan Governor Cornelis said the carbide cannon game played along the Kapuas River during the night of Lebaran (on the Eve of Eid al-Fitr) is the cultural tradition of the Pontianak Malay community.