By Chol D. Johnson
The Pari Community of Lopon County, Eastern Equatoria State, has celebrated the three-day Pari Cultural Festival in Juba.
The Pari Cultural Festival, which is usually scheduled to be celebrated in November, was instead celebrated in April due to the celebration of the Pari age-set generation “Maden Pari.”
Speaking on Sunday during the final day of the celebration, Alfrad Peria, one of the Pari community members, expressed that the celebration usually occurs in November, but due to the Pari age-set group, it was scheduled for April.
“We do celebrate the Pari Cultural Festival every year in November, but we were engaging in the Madan Pari age set generation celebration,” Peria expressed.
Peria said that next year the celebration will be in November so that most people will be able to participate.
He added that most of the Pari community members had gone to the village for farming, as it is the time for crop cultivation.
Pesta Akec, a young lady from the Pari Community, expressed her happiness about the Pari Cultural Festival.
“I’m really happy to celebrate this important day of the Pari Cultural Festival.”
Akec reiterated that due to the youth age initiation being celebrated early in Juba, the Pari Cultural Festival was pushed to April.
She further added that culture should be taught to young children so they continue to learn their cultural dances.
Akec urged the people of South Sudan to embrace peace for the future of the younger generation, so they can continue to express their community’s cultural dances and norms.
“I urged the South Sudanese to embrace peace for the future of the young generation.
The Pari Community in Juba recently celebrated the “Madan Pari,” meaning the Pari land age-set group initiation celebration in Juba.
The celebration brought together all the Pari community members residing in Juba city and those from Lopon County to celebrate the age-set group initiation.