The Decorative Lantern Tradition That Became an Icon of River Tourism
Banjarmasin is widely known as the City of a Thousand Rivers, a city that has grown and developed alongside the waterways that serve as the lifeblood of the Banjar people. Among the many traditions that continue to thrive in this city, the Tanglong Festival and the Decorated Boat Festival are two cultural celebrations that attract significant attention from both local residents and visitors.
Both festivals showcase the beauty of dazzling decorative lights at night, yet they differ in presentation while remaining closely connected through the historical development of Banjar culture.
Many people wonder whether the Decorated Boat Festival and the Tanglong Festival are separate events or simply different names for the same celebration. This question arises because both festivals feature tanglong, or decorative lanterns, as their central element.
To understand the relationship between the two, it is necessary to explore the history and evolution of this tradition over time.
Understanding the Tanglong Festival in Banjar Tradition
The Tanglong Festival originated from a long-standing Banjar tradition that has been practiced for decades. The word “tanglong” refers to decorative lanterns crafted from various materials and designed into attractive ornaments.
In the past, local communities worked together to create tanglong lanterns to enliven certain nights in the Islamic calendar, particularly during the final days of Ramadan.
This tradition carried strong religious and social significance. The illuminated lanterns symbolized the joy of the community in welcoming sacred nights, including Laylat al-Qadr and the Eid al-Fitr celebration.
Over time, tanglong lanterns were no longer displayed only at homes. They were also featured in parades throughout neighborhoods using carts, pedicabs, bicycles, and eventually motorized vehicles.
The vibrant nighttime atmosphere created by colorful lights made the Tanglong Festival one of the most anticipated traditions among local residents. Beyond entertainment, the festival strengthened social bonds through the collective process of building and parading the lanterns together.
The Transformation into the Tanglong Decorated Boat Festival
As tourism development and cultural preservation efforts gained momentum, the Banjarmasin City Government introduced innovations to the traditional tanglong celebration. What was once a land-based parade gradually evolved into a river parade by utilizing traditional boats known as jukung and kelotok.
This transformation gave birth to the Tanglong Decorated Boat Festival, a cultural event that combines the lantern tradition with the river identity that has long defined the city of Banjarmasin.
While traditional Tanglong Festivals featured lanterns mounted on land vehicles, the Decorated Boat Festival places these lantern displays on traditional boats that sail along the Martapura River.
For this reason, the Decorated Boat Festival is not a separate event from the Tanglong Festival. Both share the same cultural roots. The primary difference lies in the medium used for the celebration.
Tanglong remains the main decorative element in the form of illuminated lanterns, while the jukung serves as the vessel that carries these artistic displays across the water.
In other words, the Decorated Boat Festival can be understood as a modern evolution of the Tanglong Festival, adapted to reflect Banjarmasin’s identity as a river city.
Are the Decorated Boat Festival and the Tanglong Festival Held Together?
In its modern form, both terms essentially refer to the same series of events. The official name used by the government is the Tanglong Decorated Boat Festival.
As a result, local residents often refer to it simply as the Tanglong Festival, while official publications frequently use the name Tanglong Decorated Boat Festival.
The festival is no longer exclusively associated with Ramadan celebrations as it was in the past. Today, it is more commonly linked to the anniversary celebrations of the City of Banjarmasin. In 2025, for example, the festival was held from September 23 to 24 as part of the city's 499th anniversary festivities.
This shift in scheduling demonstrates how a traditional cultural practice has successfully adapted to modern tourism promotion and regional cultural programs while preserving its original identity.
Festival Location in the Heart of Banjarmasin
The Tanglong Decorated Boat Festival is centered along the Martapura River, the most iconic landmark of Banjarmasin. The main activities take place around the Siring Menara Pandang waterfront area, also known as Banjarmasin’s Zero Kilometer Point.
This location is chosen because it offers easy access for both residents and visitors. From the riverside promenade, spectators can watch long processions of illuminated jukung and kelotok boats sailing along the river at night.
The Martapura River itself serves as a spectacular natural stage. The reflections of colorful tanglong lights on the water create an atmosphere unlike that of most other lantern festivals.
These breathtaking views have made the Decorated Boat Festival one of the most photogenic cultural attractions in South Kalimantan.
Stunning Decorations and Participant Creativity
One of the festival’s greatest attractions is the creativity displayed by participants in decorating their boats. Various themes inspired by culture, history, arts, and regional development are presented through elaborate and colorful designs.
Tanglong lanterns dominate the decorations, illuminating nearly every section of the boats. Participants often incorporate traditional Banjar elements such as Sasirangan patterns, miniature traditional houses, regional legendary figures, panting musical instruments, and representations of traditional dances.
Many boats also feature moving decorative elements built using specialized frameworks, creating dynamic visual effects as they glide along the river. The combination of light, motion, and water reflections produces a mesmerizing nighttime spectacle for spectators.
A Cultural Festival That Has Become a Tourism Icon of Banjarmasin
Today, the Tanglong Decorated Boat Festival has developed into one of South Kalimantan’s premier cultural tourism events. The festival not only serves as entertainment for local communities but also plays an important role in preserving river traditions, strengthening Banjar cultural identity, and promoting the region’s creative economy.
The festival demonstrates how traditional customs can remain relevant through innovation that reflects changing times. Lanterns that once traveled through village streets now shine magnificently on the waters of the Martapura River, creating a unique blend of cultural heritage and modern tourism.
That is why the Tanglong Festival and the Decorated Boat Festival cannot be discussed separately. The Decorated Boat Festival represents both the continuation and the evolution of the Tanglong tradition, which has long been an integral part of Banjar community life.
Through this festival, the glow of tanglong lanterns does more than illuminate the night—it symbolizes the spirit of the people of Banjarmasin in preserving and introducing their culture to the world.
