Sago Trunk Running Festival Revives Tradition in Meranti Islands

RRI.CO.ID, Selatpanjang – The traditional running on sago trunks festival has returned to Meranti Islands Regency in Riau Province, celebrating local heritage while showcasing sago as a cornerstone of the islands’ cultural identity. The 2026 Sago Trunk Running Festival and Sago-Based Cooking Competition took place in Suak Hamlet, Banglas Village on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

The event was officially opened by Meranti Islands Regent, Asmar. He described the festival as a vital effort to preserve local traditions while reintroducing sago as an integral part of Kepulauan Meranti’s cultural identity.

“I fully support the holding of this event. This momentum provides us with a space to recognize our identity, care for our ancestral heritage, and introduce our regional richness to future generations and the wider public,” said Asmar, as quoted by Antara.

According to Asmar, sago holds not only economic value for the Meranti Islands community but is also deeply intertwined with their history, daily life, culture, and collective identity. He noted that the tradition of running on sago trunks, known in Malay as belompat di atas tual sagu (Jumping on top of sago logs), embodies elements of folk play, skill, courage, balance, and togetherness.

Asmar urged continued efforts to introduce this tradition to younger generations so it does not fade with modernization. “We must not let our children and grandchildren know regional culture only from books or stories, without ever seeing, feeling, or practicing it directly.”

He reaffirmed the Meranti Islands Local Administration's commitment to promoting cultural preservation while developing cultural potential as a regional strength. During his remarks, Asmar also reminded participants to uphold sportsmanship and safety throughout the competition.

“Winning and losing are part of any competition, but maintaining brotherhood is the true victory,” he said.

In addition to the sago trunk running race, the festival featured a sago-based cooking competition. Asmar praised the community’s creativity in transforming sago into a variety of dishes, noting that such activities help showcase the diversity of locally based food commodities while encouraging sago processing skills among youth.

Banglas Village Head, Abdul Zaid, explained that the festival was initiated by a local resident named Armizan and realized through coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, supported by the Banglas Village Administration and several subdistricts across Meranti Islands.

Zaid highlighted that Banglas Village is one of the largest sago-producing areas in the Meranti Islands, making the sago trunk running tradition closely tied to local life. He expressed hope that the festival would become a sustainable agenda for both cultural preservation and regional promotion.

“This festival is expected not only to be a ceremonial activity but to grow into a sustainable agenda for cultural preservation and regional potential promotion,” said Zaid.

He also pointed out sago’s significant economic potential for Banglas Village residents. Sago plantations have long been part of community life and livelihoods. “In the past, sago may have received less attention, but now it holds high economic value. Even elderly residents can still meet their family needs from their sago gardens,” he noted.

He called on the community to protect sago plantations as both an economic asset and a cultural heritage passed down through generations. The Sago Trunk Running Festival and Sago-Based Cooking Competition are expected to continue growing; not merely as community entertainment, but as a means to strengthen cultural identity and introduce the Meranti Islands’ sago potential to a broader audience. ***