The Head of the International Mobility Affairs Division of the ITB Bureau of Partnerships, Dr. Annisa Jusuf, S.T., M.T., in her remarks, said that ITB Cultural Day 2024 is a concrete manifestation of the campus's commitment to introducing the richness of Indonesian culture to international students studying at ITB.

^{Head of the International Mobility Affairs Division of the ITB Bureau of Partnerships, Dr. Annisa Jusuf, S.T., M.T. delivering a speech at ITB. (Humas ITB/M. Naufal Hafizh)}

This activity, she said, is an important moment to strengthen ties and collaboration between cultures. Cultural differences are not an obstacle, but a strength. By getting to know and understanding each other's cultures, students can build bridges of friendship and cooperation that are stronger.

^{Director of the ITB Student Directorate, D. Arch. G. Prasetyo Adhitama, S.Sn., M.Sn. delivering a speech at the ITB Cultural Day 2024 event. (Humas ITB/M. Naufal Hafizh)}

Meanwhile, the Director of the ITB Student Directorate, D. Arch. G. Prasetyo Adhitama, S.Sn., M.Sn., said that with this activity, ITB encourages international students to get to know the culture better and adapt well at ITB. That way, they can complete their assignments and the learning process on campus well and successfully.

"The added value is that they understand and start learning about Indonesian culture, interacting with fellow international students and national students, so they can connect well and build beautiful memories about ITB, about Indonesia that can be shared with family, relatives, friends, or anyone in their country of origin about good things about ITB and Indonesia," he said.

^{Enthusiasm of international students at ITB when participating in the ITB Cultural Day 2024 activity. (Humas ITB/M. Naufal Hafizh)}

In this activity, dozens of international students participated in practicing the Merak dance, the Likok Pulo dance, and painting caping (conical hats). The dance practice was guided by students from the Sundanese Art Circle (LSS) ITB and the Acehnese Cultural Unit (UKA) ITB.

The Merak dance has a number of meanings, including the embodiment of admiration for the beauty of the peacock, which is a symbol of elegance, pride, and grandeur. This dance comes from West Java.

In 2020, the Merak dance received an award as one of Indonesia's Intangible Cultural Heritage. The beauty of the Merak dance is depicted in the dance movements and philosophy.

^{International students at ITB practicing the Merak dance during the ITB Cultural Day 2024 event. (Humas ITB/M. Naufal Hafizh)}

This dance is generally performed for dance offerings at wedding receptions, events or rituals, or simply as a means of introducing Indonesian culture on the international stage.

^{International students at ITB performing the Likok Pulo dance during the ITB Cultural Day 2024 event. (Humas ITB/M. Naufal Hafizh)}

Meanwhile, the Likok Pulo dance is one of the traditional Acehnese dances that has developed in the Pulo Aceh community in the Greater Aceh region. The dance shows beauty and is full of symbols with the meaning of wisdom and character, a strong community, mutual cooperation, togetherness, religiosity, and awareness of social life.

^{International students at ITB using caping when participating in the ITB Cultural Day 2024 event. (Humas ITB/M. Naufal Hafizh)}

Caping is a head protector that is often used by farmers to protect their heads from heat, rain, and other animal disturbances while working. This hat is generally made of woven bamboo. During activities, this hat is used by students to protect themselves from the heat of the sun.

ITB Cultural Day 2024 is an event to showcase the richness of Indonesian culture and also as a bridge between cultures on the ITB campus. The enthusiasm of international students in participating in a series of events, from dance practice to painting caping, shows the success of this event in creating a memorable experience and strengthening bonds of friendship between students from various cultural backgrounds.