Exotic Mt. Hagen Cultural Show – 2015
In Mt. Hagen City every year around in the second week of August either at Kagamuga Show Ground or Rabiamul Oval, the Mt. Hagen Cultural Show is showcased. Performing Cultural Groups from Western Highlands, Southern Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Enga, Hela, Gulf, Chimbu, Jiwaka, Morobe, Madang, Sepik and other parts of Papua New Guinea and Melanesia region come together to parade their unique, colourful and exotic cultural dances and singsings. Apart from cultural shows, agricultural food and crop exhibitions, greasy pole competitions, live musical entertainments by local popular sensational artists, sky diving, local brass bands and others are exhibited on the 2-days event.
The festival is different each year and become popular over the years when once world renowned artist Sekas Bruno performing live and an elephant from Africa was brought in to attract crowds in the 1970s and 1980s.
Show goers are people from all over the world both young and old pack the show vicinity. It is an event with frequent international tourists, with big numbers coming from Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Asia. The main tourist attraction for the show is the cultural performances; popular by highlands tribal cultural closets.
It primarily serves the national significance to preserve the living cultures. The National Events Council of Papua New Guinea endorses the event for two days in a year for displaying to preserve. The National Cultural Commission supports in many respects such documenting the displays for preservation. The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority promotes the event for tourism.
Mt. Hagen City
The Mount Hagen City is named after the old eroded volcano Mountain Hagen, 24km north-west. The volcano was named after German colonial officer Curt von Hagen (1859-1897).
Mt. Hagen City is the third largest city of Papua New Guinea and is the first head city for the highlands region which becomes an economic hub for the highlands region and Papua New Guinea. The city thus becomes the tourism hub for the highlands region.
The population is more than 60,000 people with a lot of itinerants every day to the total of over 5000 travellers per day transiting for business and leisure. Mt. Hagen produces best organic Arabica coffee to the international market and tea in the country.
The city has a longest history of settled agricultural farming in the world, with Kuk Early Agricultural Site listed under World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. This is a World Heritage Site record for the city that holds the history of continuous land cultivation by the local natives with archaeological evidence of about 7,000 years and believed to be some 10, 000 years or more. The Mt. Hagen Cultural Festival also displays farmer’s food and cash crop produces to continue hold the significant of this world heritage.
Other attractions for Mt. Hagen City:
The famous Baiyer River Bird Sanctuary (Baiyer Zoo) which was first opened in 1968 is being revived to restore its former glory days. Mt. Giluwe Adventure is the Oceania region’s highest volcano listed amongst the 7 world summits, Anji Village Wild Orchid and Bird watching, Sande Gate Crocodile Park, Yuku Rock Shelter and Coffee and Tea Planation sightseeing.
Transportation available in the Mt. Hagen City is land transport and mostly hire cars and public buses. Accommodation available is ranging from five star hotel accommodation to Lodges/Resorts/Motels and local family accommodation for backpackers with traditional food preparation.
The security issue has been a great concern for travellers. Mainstream media and social media alike have given out negative impressions of the highlands region labelling it as “violent zone”. This is not always true, like any other cities in the world; there a petty crime but that should not be the worry of the travellers.
The highlands culture accepts strangers to their home and feed them. This is known over the years and the backbone of the highlands culture. This Melanesian culture guarantees travellers their safety and Mt. Hagen City is the safest place on earth when you hook up to the local indigenous network.
Testimonies of tourists travelling to Mt. Hagen City and the highlands region are enormous. They describe the Melanesian Way as exotic and beautiful. When you tap into being a local, you will forget the security cautions and they will make you feel like a local and this is guaranteed safety. You will enjoy PNG trips more than any other trips just because of the “Melanesian Way”, historically known for having high regard for travellers to date.
Why the Mt. Hagen Cultural Festival is appealing?
It is culturally exotic. Experiences are enormous. Each year there is always a new touch of the cultural festival giving its significance and why tourists should attend, a memorable holiday trip.
The festival keeps alive the cultural dances and singsings as a way to preserve living cultures. The National Cultural Commission recognises this national event as a cultural preservation event.
Mt. Hagen Cultural Show is now inviting backpackers, email: howarigc@gamil.com
Photos credit: Howarig Traders (Marketing Agent)
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