United News of Bangladesh

An 11-year-old Indonesian boy has captured global attention with a viral video of him dancing on the front of a traditional boat, sparking an international trend known as “aura farming.” The boy, Rayyan Arkhan Dikha—known online as Dika—was filmed performing calm, rhythmic movements in a traditional black outfit and sunglasses during a local boat race called pacu jalur in Riau province. The event, which dates back to the 1600s, is held every August to mark Indonesian Independence Day and has been recognized as part of Indonesia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2015. “Aura farming,” a term made popular in 2024, refers to consistently exuding coolness, often associated with anime characters or celebrities. Social media users have dubbed Dika “the ultimate aura farmer” as his poised performance on the bow of a narrow canoe has inspired countless recreations across TikTok and Instagram. Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano erupts, sends searing-hot ash miles high Initially shared on TikTok in January by a user named Lensa Rams, the video has recently gone viral, with athletes and celebrities—like Paris Saint-Germain, NFL star Travis Kelce, and U.S. soccer player Diego Luna—mimicking Dika’s signature moves. In recognition of his influence, Riau Governor Abdul Wahid named Dika a provincial tourism ambassador and awarded him a 20 million rupiah (about $1,200) scholarship. “The world is now seeing the rich culture of Riau, especially pacu jalur,” Wahid said. Dika, who has been participating in the races since age nine, will return for this year’s competition in August. Speaking after meeting with Indonesia’s Culture Minister Fadli Zon, he said: “I’m happy that I’ve gone viral globally.” Source: Arab News