Indonesian cultural troupe enthralls audience

The Indonesian Geronimo popular cultural troupe gave a scintillating performance comprising classical and modern Indonesian dances, songs and music on the last leg of their Pakistan tour at the Bahria Auditorium in Karachi on Saturday evening.
Sindh Culture and Tourism Minister Rauf Siddiqui was the chief guest while Indonesian Ambassador H.E. Anwar Santoso, Karachi Acting Council General Hikmat Moeljawan welcomed the minister and the troupe at the concluding performance. It was very largely attended by diplomats, educationists, artists, and Indonesians resident in Karachi.
Culture Minister of Sindh Rauf Siddiqui welcoming the cultural troupe declared that Pakistan and Indonesia had very close fraternal ties and the troupe's visit will add to the further strengthening of these ties. Pakistanis held Indonesian in high regard and remembered well the common struggle by both nations for their national independence.
Indonesian Ambassador H.E. Anwar Santoso said that the visit of the Indonesian cultural troupe was within the framework of the pledge by President Susilo Bamband Yudhoyono and President Prevez Musharraf in their summit level meetings to bring the two nations closer together. The troupe manifested the commonalties of culture between our 'two brother nations'.
Indonesian Acting Council General H.E. Hikmat Moeljawan speaking on the occasion highlighted the diversity of cultural mix in Indonesia and this was why Indonesian believed in the slogan: "Unity in Diversity". He welcomed the troupe's visit to Pakistan and thanked Culture Minister Rauf Siddiqui for being the chief guest. He also lauded the Pakistan-Indonesia Friendship Society in connection with the visit and performance of the cultural troupe from Indonesia.
The leader of the Indonesian cultural troupe Anton Kusumu Yudianto thanked the people of Pakistan for the warm welcome the troupe received during its visit to Islamabad and Lahore where it gave performance and now in Karachi. "Everywhere we went, we were welcomed like members of one family, like brothers and this has left a deep impressions on our minds of the sincerity and goodwill of Pakistanis for Indonesia, " he added.
The performance given by the Indonesian cultural troupe included songs and dances from Java, Bali, Sumatra Aceh and Sulawesi and they received very warm applause when thy presented Pakistani Urdu songs, which they specially learnt for the visit to Pakistan.
The president of the Pakistan Indonesia Friendship Society (PIFS) Mehmudul Aziz lauded the performance by the Indonesian cultural troupe and gave momentous from the PIFS to the member of the troupe, making their performance at Karachi.
Those given the momentos included Ms. Mima Tantina, Ms. Luh Putu Mardiyani Ms. Retno Wulansari, Ms. Novi Apriyanto, Ms. Ria Lestari, Ms. Waode Ratna, Ms. Tiara Emilia Purwoto and Ms. Emi Wuhyani while the male artists included Dedi Variyanto, Hendra Sudarmanto, I. Gede Panca, Surjaya, Zulkernein Meinardy, Juneidi Setiawan and the leader A.K. Ydianto. Specially attending the momento presentation ceremony were PIFS Senior Vice President S.S. Iqbal Hussain and Secretary General M.A. Aziz Jakartawala.