Bangla Press Desk: Rowers with rainbow-painted oars sliced through the Kuantan River in western Indonesia, muscles burning as long wooden boats surged forward. But this year’s Pacu Jalur race wasn’t just about the competition — it was about an 11-year-old boy who stole the show.
A 20-second clip of Rayyan Arkan Dikha dancing at the tip of a boat transformed the centuries-old festival into an internet sensation. His effortless moves, performed on the edge of a rocking vessel, went viral and drew tens of thousands of new spectators to the riverside. Officials estimate the video brought an extra 100,000 people to this year’s race.
“After it went viral on social media, I wanted to see Pacu Jalur in person,” said Yuyun Kurnia, 38, who drove 17 hours from Medan. “It was amazing.”
The clip racked up millions of views and even inspired global sports stars like Formula One driver Alex Albon and MotoGP champion Marc Marquez to mimic Rayyan’s swirling, swinging routine.
Indonesian dancing boy turns ancient boat race into global party
Banglapress
Published: 23 September 2025, 10:26 AM
Bangla Press Desk: Rowers with rainbow-painted oars sliced through the Kuantan River in western Indonesia, muscles burning as long wooden boats surged forward. But this year’s Pacu Jalur race wasn’t just about the competition — it was about an 11-year-old boy who stole the show.
A 20-second clip of Rayyan Arkan Dikha dancing at the tip of a boat transformed the centuries-old festival into an internet sensation. His effortless moves, performed on the edge of a rocking vessel, went viral and drew tens of thousands of new spectators to the riverside. Officials estimate the video brought an extra 100,000 people to this year’s race.
“After it went viral on social media, I wanted to see Pacu Jalur in person,” said Yuyun Kurnia, 38, who drove 17 hours from Medan. “It was amazing.”
The clip racked up millions of views and even inspired global sports stars like Formula One driver Alex Albon and MotoGP champion Marc Marquez to mimic Rayyan’s swirling, swinging routine.
[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]
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