RRI.CO.ID, Agam - Residents from two disaster-affected subvillages (jorong) in Nagari Sungai Batang, Tanjung Raya District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, held a vibrant torch parade to welcome Takbiran (chanting the takbir) Night on Thursday evening, March 19, 2026.

The parade featured approximately 80 participants, primarily children ranging from preschool to junior high school age. They were accompanied by a group of 20 local youths performing traditional tambua and tansa drums, filling the night air with rhythmic beats as they celebrated the eve of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah.

The Head of Jorong Kubu, Reza Triandori, explained that the torch parade was a collaborative effort between two subvillages that were both severely impacted by recent disasters. The event was designed to maintain local traditions and foster solidarity during the ongoing recovery process.

“All disaster-affected communities participated because these two sub-villages joined together. Usually, it's just one, but we did this so there is friendship between the sub-villages,” Reza said, as quoted by Antara.

He noted that in previous years, Jorong Kubu typically celebrated by building rakik-rakik (traditional bamboo rafts). However, due to the focus on post-disaster recovery, there were no available youth groups to undertake the extensive construction process this year.

“Previous years we had the raft event, but because we had a disaster this year, there were no youths to make them,” he added.

The parade route spanned approximately one kilometer, starting from a gathering point in Jorong Nagari and ending at the Jorong Kubu Mosque. As the procession moved through the village, participants passed a newly reconstructed armco bridge, which had previously been destroyed, cutting off access between the sub-villages.

The landscape along the route served as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the community; to the right of the marchers, piles of large rocks and debris from the flash floods still remained. Despite these surroundings, the echoes of the takbir and the traditional drumming brought a sense of festive joy to the area.

Upon arriving at the mosque courtyard, the celebration continued with a fireworks display and various performances by the local youth, witnessed by residents who had followed the parade since its start.

Nagari Sungai Batang was among the areas hardest hit by flash floods and landslides in late November 2025. According to data from the West Sumatra Disaster One Data Dashboard, the disaster damaged 272 buildings in the region, with estimated losses reaching IDR 98.7 billion (approximately USD 5.81 million).

This celebration marks a significant emotional milestone for the survivors as they navigate their first Lebaran following the catastrophe. ***