The 2026 Flower and Fruit Festival Was Bursting with Energy
The 2026 Flower and Fruit Festival parade took place in Berastagi, Karo Regency. A procession of decorated vehicles laden with fresh flowers and locally grown fruit was one of the highlights of the event, which combined tourism, agriculture, and Karo culture.
North Sumatra (Sumut) Deputy Governor Surya, together with the Minister of Cooperatives (Menkop) Ferry Juliantono and Karo Regent Antonius Ginting, saw the parade off from Mejuah-juah Park in Berastagi.
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Thousands of people lined the parade route—stretching from the main grandstand to Mejuah-juah Park—to witness the annual festival up close, an event that serves as an icon of tourism for Karo Regency.
Deputy Governor Surya expressed his pride in the Flower and Fruit Festival, which is part of the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) program and contributes to strengthening North Sumatra’s image as a tourist destination.
“This festival embodies the beauty and uniqueness of Karo Regency; it is not merely a fleeting event, but a legacy that endures and is passed down from generation to generation,” said North Sumatra Deputy Governor Surya.
The parade began with an energetic performance by a marching band, followed by a procession of decorated vehicles featuring various artistic creations. The vehicles were adorned with fresh flowers and fruit, showcasing Karo Regency’s premium agricultural produce.
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The excitement was further heightened by the presence of a variety of unique outfits and costumes designed using local agricultural elements. Horses—a symbol and signature tourist attraction of Berastagi—also took part in the parade.
The 2026 Flower and Fruit Festival parade was attended by representatives from regional government agencies, sub-districts and villages, state- and region-owned enterprises, the private sector, and various members of the Karo community. They showcased a variety of cultural displays, highlighting flowers and fruit as the region’s premier agricultural products.
In addition to showcasing agricultural produce and tourism potential, the festival this year highlighted the Erpangir Ku-Lao ritual—a Karo tradition passed down through generations.
Erpangir Ku-Lao is a self-purification ritual traditionally performed by adherents of the Pemena (Pamenah) faith. The ritual involves bathing or cleansing oneself with pangir—a traditional mixture of aromatic leaves, flowers, and kaffir lime (utep)—sprinkled with river or clean spring water.
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In traditional Karo customs, this ritual symbolizes the cleansing of negative auras, healing, the dispelling of bad luck (sira mesira), and the expression of gratitude for the earth’s abundant produce.
The inclusion of Erpangir Ku-Lao in the 2026 Flower and Fruit Festival underscores Karo Regency’s commitment to balancing tourism development and the strengthening of the agricultural sector with the preservation of local cultural roots. ***REL
