JABAR EKSPRES — Dozens of divers who are members of the Wawahe’a Gorontalo Community (WGC) and the Bone Bolango Regency Government celebrated the tradition of tumbilotohe under the sea on Tuesday (18/4) night.
The divers lit lamps and unfurled tumbilotohe banners at sea depths of around 10-15 meters, in the waters of whale shark tourism in Botubarani Village, Kabila Bone Subdistrict.
“This is our third underwater tumbilotohe, but this time in collaboration with the Bone Bolango Tourism Office. Through this activity, we want to maintain the tradition of tumbilotohe in Gorontalo in a different form, namely in the sea,” said WGC spokesperson, Dian Novian.
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In addition, this diving community wants to continue to promote Gorontalo’s whale shark tourism destination at the world level, so as to attract foreign tourists.
“Earlier we also had time to clean the sea, by lifting plastic waste in the sea to land. We hope this tourist attraction is not only beautiful but also a healthy environment, so that the whale sharks are preserved,” she said.
Head of Tourism at the Bone Bolango Tourism Office, Yudin Maksum, said that his party provided maximum support for the activity.
“Activities like this can raise the image of Bone Bolango tourism, as well as support environmental conservation and whale sharks in these waters,” he said.
What’s more, he said, Botubarani Village is included in the top 75 of the Indonesian Tourism Village Award (ADWI) in 2023 so it needs support from communities.
In addition to celebrating tumbilotohe and cleaning the sea, the community also held an iftar together, as well as distributing takjil and basic food assistance to local residents.
Tumbilotohe is a tradition of the Gorontalo people at the end of Ramadan, by lighting traditional lamps in various places.
