BANGKA BARAT – In its effort to preserve local traditions and support tourism events in West Bangka Regency, PT Timah has assisted to ensure the success of the Dodol Bergema Traditional Festival in Penyampak Village, West Bangka Regency.
The Dodol Bergema Festival is an annual tradition in Penyampak Village, beginning with a communal activity where villagers come together to prepare and cook dodol in an open field.
The dodol made during this communal event will later be served to guests attending the festival's main celebration on Sunday (9/2/2025).
The Dodol Bergema Festival is a tradition that symbolizes the community’s gratitude to God for the abundant harvest and blessings they have received.
Apin, a participant of Dodol Bergema from Penyampak Village, explained that the event embodies the spirit of mutual cooperation and progress.
"Bergema signifies Bergerak Maju (Moving Forward). The people of Penyampak are united in building their village, one of which is through the collective effort of making dodol together. This spirit of togetherness strengthens social bonds within the community, both among local villagers and with visitors from outside the village," Apin stated.
The Head of Penyampak Village, Doni, in his opening speech, emphasized that the success of Dodol Bergema was made possible through the hard work of the villagers and the support of various stakeholders and sponsors.
"The village government expresses its gratitude to the people of Penyampak for their support in making this event a success, as well as to PT Timah, PT THEP, PT Sawindo Kencana, and the West Bangka Regency Government, especially the Tourism Department. We hope that events like this will continue to be preserved," he said.
Meanwhile, Yus Derahman, a community leader from Tempilang who attended the event, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural traditions with the support of all parties. He noted that cultural preservation also serves as a means of promoting local tourism and MSMEs.
"The local government, community leaders, youth, council members, SOEs, and regional enterprises must support this event. In addition to preserving traditions, this festival is an opportunity to promote our region and introduce our traditional dodol," he stated.
He also expressed appreciation for PT Timah’s continuous support for cultural heritage in Tempilang District.
"We thank PT Timah, one of the state-owned enterprises that consistently supports traditional festivals in Tempilang. PT Timah also plays a role in supporting the Perang Ketupat Festival," he concluded. (*)
