Boy’s viral fame draws tourists to annual longboat race

ARMED with colourful oars, rowers pack into long boats in western Indonesia, paddling furiously in front of race crowds swelled by the viral success of a young boy famous for his dancing at the front of the traditional vessels.

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The annual Pacu Jalur race on Sumatra island ended on Sunday, with officials estimating as many as 100000 more spectators this year because of 11-year-old Rayyan Arkan Dikha’s dance moves on a fast-moving boat.

“I came to watch Pacu Jalur because I wanted to film and show the festival to the world,” Australian tourist Duncan McNaught said.