TIMES MALAYSIA, BANDUNG – National Batik Day, celebrated by all Indonesian people every October 2nd, is also marked by Indonesian people who live in the United States. Several regions in several states of the United States including Florida also held festivals, exhibitions of batik clothes, and other festivals to celebrate Indonesia's national batik day.

In the state of Florida, precisely in the South Florida area, one of the cities celebrated national batik day by holding a batik exhibition in Deerfield Beach, Broward County. Bandung-born Florida artist Maria Lloyd held a batik exhibition with some of her work, family collections, and items she collected from her visits to Indonesia. 

This batik exhibition is being held in 3 weeks consecutively from October 1st to November 19th at the Cultural Center. It aims to introduce Indonesian culture to the people of the United States, especially Florida.

The Deerfield Beach Cultural Center is part of the Deerfield Beach Historical Society (DBHS). DBHS is an organization that protects historical objects and buildings.

The president of the Deerfield Beach Cultural Center, TJ Eagen, and the Director of the Arts, Gabriela Gamperl welcomed the arrival of Indonesian culture at the cultural center. They hope to make Indonesian culture, especially batik, join the list of regular events at the center.

The Deerfield Beach Cultural Center offers several events every year. These everyday activities include art exhibitions, historical exhibitions, and the viewing of documentaries from various countries, as well as classes related to creativity, such as painting, ceramics, and others.

Batik festival was held at the cultural center on October 8th. This batik festival and exhibition is Florida's first Indonesian festival and exhibition and the center's first event hosted by the Deerfield Beach Cultural Center.

In addition to the batik exhibition and YouTube presentations, there were also batik goods, Indonesian items, Indonesian food, Indonesian market snacks, traditional Indonesian dances, and demonstrations of batik making.

BEside some batik, typical Indonesian food such as yellow rice, rendang, fried chicken, potato fried chili sauce, fried noodles, cakes, and tofu meatballs was also offered on the exhibition. some Indonesian kue like lemper, risoles, putu ayum cake, pepe cake, combro, pastel, and cendol could also be found in this place.

Some tropical plants were also brought up to be introduced to the visitors. Some other souvenirs and products made by the Indonesia were also presented during the occasion.

Some dangdut and contemporary dance like Goyang Karawang were also presented to entertained the visitors as well take them closer to find out about Indonesian culture. Not to mention the original jaipong dance performed by native Indonesian who lives in US. 

Some Americans were also passionate about helping promote Indonesian culture by joining cosplay groups. They wearing Batik clothes related to Indonesian legends or history during the festival. (*)