RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - As families across Indonesia celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holidays, East Kalimantan is offering something uniquely cultural: the Lom Plai Festival of Custom and Tradition in East Kutai. Far from being just a festive attraction, the month-long event is a living showcase of ancestral heritage, drawing visitors into the spiritual and communal heart of the Wehea people.

“This festival, coinciding with the Eid break, is both a preservation of ancestral traditions and a way to strengthen East Kalimantan’s position as a leading cultural destination,” Head of the East Kalimantan Tourism Office, Ririn Sari Dewi, said in Samarinda on Monday, March 23, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Carrying the theme “Weaving Infinite Gratitude on Ancestral Land of Wehea,” the festival runs from March 23 to April 24, 2026. It opened with the sacred Ngesea Egung ritual, marked by the ceremonial gong strike performed by a boy descended from royal lineage -- an act symbolizing honor and legitimizing the start of the festivities.

“The resonating gong is a sacred call, signaling the revival of tradition and the spirit of togetherness among the community,” Ririn explained.

The celebrations continue on March 24 with the Laq Pesyai procession, a ritual of harvesting ketete fruit. Rich in symbolism, it represents blessings from nature and harmony between humans and the environment.

For visitors, the festival is more than a ceremony; it is an open invitation to witness the resilience of local traditions and the living culture of the Dayak Wehea.

“Let us come together to support and promote this ancestral cultural agenda as part of collective efforts to advance local tourism and share East Kalimantan’s heritage with the wider world,” Ririn urged.

This year’s Lom Plai Festival not only enriches the holiday season but also reaffirms East Kalimantan’s role as a guardian of Indonesia’s diverse cultural identity. ***