SRI AMAN – The 22nd Benak Festival concluded today, with the event’s grand finale, a river regatta, drawing thousands to the Batang Lupar riverbank.
The celebration was officially postponed by the Sarawak Governor, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, who attended the closing ceremony.
Upon their arrival, the couple was greeted with a vibrant display of traditional Sarawakian dances. They then proceeded to the main stage to witness the highly anticipated River King Competition, where 11 regatta boats vied for the top honour.
The competition was a highlight for many attendees, showcasing the region’s unique cultural heritage and its connection to the river.
The team LANDAS Cahaya Helang Tasik emerged victorious, securing the title of King of the Batang Lupar River.
They completed the course in an impressive six minutes and 58 seconds, earning a grand prize of RM25,000 and a trophy.
Todak Berjaya took second place with a time of seven minutes and 12 seconds, winning RM10,000 and a trophy.
The third-place spot went to King Paddle GT, which finished just one second behind at seven minutes and 13 seconds, and received RM5,000 and a trophy.
Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi had the honour of flagging off the regatta race and personally presented the prizes to the triumphant teams.
Following the main event, the Governor and his wife also had the chance to admire the iconic benak, or tidal bore, which is a key natural landmark of Sri Aman.
Their visit concluded with a tour of various exhibitions organized by government agencies and corporations.
Other notable attendees included Sarawak Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Sarawak Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Skills Development Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Batang Lupar MP Mohamad Shafizan Kepli, and Sri Aman Resident Mahra Salleh.