SUMATRA
ARTS & CRAFTSOne of the most popular handicrafts
is the traditional hand woven cloth. In North Sumatra, they call it Ulos.
Ulos Ragi Hotang a type of ceremonial mantle worn to announce the birth
of a boy or used at wedding ceremonies. Songket from Minangkabau, a sarong
or shawls woven in bold color silk combined with artificial gold thread. The motive
is usually geometric shapes. In Lampung, they make Tapis sarong, a woven
cloth with embroidered gold couchwork. MINANGKABAU HANDICRAFTS
Wood Carving
Wood carving, can be found in
many villages throughout the province, because the traditional houses need carved
wood for their walls. The motif of wood carving in this province are generally
based explicity on models from nature. Songket weaving.
"Songket" is a traditional Minangkabau textile providing the materila
for the colorful customary costumes worn for all traditional ceremony. Up today,
the "Songket" is still traditionally woven, using gold manual looms,
and generally done by women or girls. The motif of songket clothes are drawn largerly
from things existing in nature, they often depict flora. The motifs are made by
inserting supplement gold, silver or colored thread among the basic thread woven
into the loom. Pandai Sikek is the most popular village for its beautiful songket
weaving. Embroidery
Many villages in this province
are well known for their tradtional embroidery. Each village produces its specific
embroidery that makes it easier to differenciate it from the product of other
villages. Nareh village in Padang Pariaman Regency makes its motifs by using gold
or silver thread inserted on coloured velvet textile.Kota Gadang and Ampek
Angkek, two villages on the outskirt of Bukittinggi are also well-known for
therir specific embroidery and lace. The more you explore
the island, the more interesting experience you will get. Minangkabau culture
(West Sumatra) is the largest matrilineal society in the world. Traditionally,
the Minangkabau people live in multi-family longhouse named Rumah Gadang. For
detail information on Sumatra Indonesia Tour Packages, please contact : Adventure
Indonesia | 
