Jakarta - The Bali Provincial Government will prepare a stage to glorify water, before the implementation of the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) on 18-24 May 2024.
This was conveyed by the Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, at the Press Conference Closing the 10th WWF Kick-Off Meeting at the Jakarta Convention Centre (JCC), Jakarta, Thursday (16/2/2023).
"18 May 2024 coincides with the anniversary of glorifying water based on the Balinese calendar," Koster said.
According to Koster, Bali also has an irrigation system known as subak to support organic rice fields.
"One of them is Subak in Jatiluwih Village, Tabanan Regency," he said.
Subak is a community organisation that specifically regulates the irrigation system of rice fields used in rice farming in Bali, Indonesia. Subak generally has a temple called Uluncarik Temple or Bedugul Temple, which is specially built by landowners and farmers.
Koster also expressed his gratitude to the government for building dams and reservoirs in Bali.
Previously, Koster stated that the theme of the 10th WWF 2024 or the 10th World Water Forum, Water for Shared Prosperity, was in line with the values of local wisdom of the Balinese people who honour water.
The ancestors of the Balinese people considered water to be a source of happiness for humans.
"Balinese people have a day to honour water which falls once every six months on Saturday based on the Balinese calendar," Koster said at the JCC, Jakarta, Wednesday (15/2/2023).
According to Koster, for Balinese people water is not only used for bathing, eating, and irrigation, but also to purify themselves.
"Every Hindu ceremony in Bali ends with a splash of water," he said.
Koster asserted that Bali is ready to hold The 10th WWF on 18-24 May 2024.
According to him, Bali's success in the implementation of international events such as the 2022 G20 Summit became valuable capital in the implementation of The 10th WWF.
"WWF is also a momentum to understand the function of water as a whole," he said.
Previously, President Joko Widodo received the President of the World Water Council, Loic Fauchon, and his delegation at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (15/2 2023).
During the meeting, President Joko Widodo, among others, emphasised six topics that must be discussed in the 10th WWF event in Bali in 2024, one of which is the need for water for humans and the environment.
Meanwhile, the President of the World Water Council (WWC), Loïc Fauchon, invited all countries that will attend the 10th WWF forum in Bali, Indonesia in 2024 to make it a momentum to increase cooperation for global water management.
"We need great political will among countries to work together. That is the purpose of holding a special international forum on water such as the World Water Forum. Water issues must be one of the top priorities for all countries in the world today," said Loïc Fauchon in Jakarta, Monday (13/2/2023).