ESSAY TASK 1

PERSUASIVE ESSAY

Name : Rahmat Hidayatul Ilham

NIM : 1714050047

Religious And Cultural Diversity In West Sumatra As A Tourist Destination

Are you a person who likes cultural and religious diversity? Perhaps West Sumatra can
be the right tourist destination for you. West Sumatra is one of the provinces in Indonesia which
is thick with Islam. Islam and the Minangkabau ethnicity are two inseparable things, where every
people who is born in the Minangkabau tribe is confirmed to be a Muslim. However, before
Islam becoming the religions of the Minangkabau people, Hinduism and Buddhism occupied this
area far before. You can find many relics of the history of this religion as evidence that this
religion was once in power. This cultural and religious diversity will definitely be a strong reason
why you must enter West Sumatra as your tourist destination.

Firstly, Istano Pagaruyuang or Pagaruyung Palace can be a place that you must visit if
you come to West Sumatra. Istano Pagaruyuang or Pagaruyung Palace is a legacy of Hindu and
Buddhist that once ruled the West Sumatra region. This Palace located in Batusangkar, Tanah
Datar Regency. This palace is approximately 110KM from Padang,and it is requiring 2 hours
drive by car. Although the palace was burned down by a lightning strike in 2007, it was
successfully renovated 5 years later. In this palace you will find various kinds of historical and
cultural heritage of Minangkabau.

Then, in addition to Istano Pagaruyuang, you can visit several Hindu cultural relics and
another historical heritage such as prasasati, menhirs, batu batikam, and kuburan panjang which
is still located in Tanah Datar Regency. This relic can be found easily because it is located on
the side of the road. so that you won't have trouble visiting this place.

Latest, another cultures that you can enjoy in West Sumatra is tabuik. The Tabuik event is
the commemoration of the Day of Assyura or the day of mourning for the death of Imam
Hussein bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad SAW who died in Karbala Field on 10
Muharam 61 Hijriah or 680 AD. The Tabuik Festival is held every 10th of Muharam in the Hijri
calendar. Every year there are two tabuik 12 meters high which are issued into the city center and
will be witnessed by thousands of visitors. Then the two tabuik were carried along with the
rhythm of Gendang Tasa to Gandoriah Beach.
 The diversity of cultures and religions in West Sumatra is certainly very interesting to
visit. Apart from some of the places mentioned above, there are still many places you need to
visit when you come to West Sumatra. Because every region in West Sumatra has its own
culture and historical heritage.