Indonesia celebrates National Batik Day

By Erric Permana

JAKARTA (AA) - Indonesia on Wednesday celebrates the National Batik Day.

On Oct. 2, 2009, UNESCO had designated batik -- a traditional technique in Indonesia of wax-resist dyeing applied to cloth -- as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In a statement celebrating the day, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said batik is the identity and characteristic of Indonesia that is known to the world.

"We must be proud to wear batik. Several regions in the country have developed various patterns of batik and it has to be preserved, grown and maintained as the pride of Indonesian people," he said.

Anung said he disagrees with stereotype that batik is the culture of old people, instead he added, it’s a contemporary one.

- President celebrates in Central Java

Indonesian President Joko Widodo attended a celebration ceremony to mark the day in the Boyolali regency of Central Java province.

In his remarks, Widodo called for introducing batik to the international community.

"Through the commemoration of the National Batik Day this year, we reaffirm our commitment to Indonesian batik, the commitment to form a generation of young Indonesians who preserve batik," said the president.

He also appreciated the inclusion of lessons about batik in the local curriculum of some schools.