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New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Indonesian boy goes viral for boat race moves, named tourism ambassador [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: Social media has a peculiar way of turning the obscure into global trends, as seen in the case of an Indonesian boy whose commanding presence during a Pacu Jalur boat race went viral and captured the hearts of people worldwide. Rayyan Arkan Dikha, or Dika, 11, was recorded moving rhythmically at the tip of a long wooden boat during the Pacu Jalur festival in Kuantan Singingi. Wearing a black traditional outfit and sunglasses, his composed expression and deliberate gestures drew massive attention online, leading to countless remakes, memes and tributes. The clip quickly turned into a global trend, catching the attention of sports personalities and celebrities. American football star Travis Kelce, Formula One driver Alex Albon, and football players from Paris Saint-Germain were among those who uploaded their own versions of Dika's moves. According to BBC Indonesia, Dika had not planned the dance in advance, it came naturally during the race. As the Togak Luan, his role is to stand at the front of the boat and inspire the rowers with expressive movements while maintaining balance throughout the race. The Pacu Jalur celebration is one of Riau's most important cultural events. Longboats glide along the Batang Kuantan River in front of cheering crowds. The races are accompanied by traditional performances, music, and exhibitions on the riverbanks. In the viral footage, Dika is seen in a Teluk Belanga outfit paired with a Riau-style headcloth. His gestures include sweeping arms, rotating fists, and forward poses, all performed without breaking focus. Despite the surge in popularity, Dika has remained humble. The 11-year-old said he is happy to see people around the world enjoying and imitating the dance. "My friends always tell me I've gone viral," he told BBC Indonesia. In appreciation of his role in preserving cultural heritage, he was named a cultural ambassador last week by the governor of Riau, his home province.
Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
‘+60 points for following crowd measures': Singaporeans jump on viral ‘aura farming' trend
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Dika's fame has led him to being named as a tourism ambassador for Riau. SINGAPORE - An 11-year-old boy from Indonesia displayed so much rizz during a traditional boat race recently that he sparked a whole host of copycats, or aura farmers. No cap. Athletes, politicians and even the military have taken to social media to mimic Rayyan Arkan Dikha , who went viral after a clip of him dancing during a pacu jalur race in the Indonesian province of Riau , was posted online in January . Clad in an all-black traditional costume and a pair of oversized shades, the boy - known as Dika - displayed his moves at the head of a boat with much swagger, as the rest behind him paddled furiously. The term aura was popularised by Gen Alpha, to refer to something that is cool. To aura farm is to do something to up one's cool factor. Among the latest to jump on the aura farming trend was the Singapore Navy, which on July 16 posted a video of its sailors copying Dika and Co. on board the MSRV Protector , a maritime security and response vessel. Flexing much? The video amassed more than 474,000 likes on Instagram and 5.3 million likes on Tiktok. Instagram user Kerstin Ong commented: 'Love it when they try to speak the Gen Z and Gen Alpha languages these days.' Not to be outdone, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) did their own version on board on Tiktok on July 20 , on an SCDF boat while en route to the Marina Bay for the National Day Parade (NDP) maritime display. That post garnered over 37,000 likes. Slay. The Singapore Police Force, too, was vibing at a NDP rehearsal recently, and posted a recreation of the dance on '+60 points for following crowd measures,' read the caption that accompanied the July 18 post. The video had over 38,000 likes as at July 21 . Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu also jumped on the hype train, but for a good cause. In an Instagram post on July 14 , she partook in the trend while at an Adventist Community Services event. 'Aura farming not to impress but for a good cause,' the post read. Elsewhere, the likes of Taylor Swift's boyfriend and NFL player Travis Kelce , Formula 1 driver Alex Albon, South Korean boy band NCT and French football team Paris Saint-Germain have also bought into the trend. The original video showed Dika during a pacu jalur race, a historic event that is part of an annual festival where children dance at the front of boats in a race to motivate the rowers. Children are generally chosen for the position as they tend to be light enough to balance on the canoe without adding too much additional weight. The boat race typically happens in August. The vast fame that Dika has amassed after going viral has led to him being named as a tourism ambassador for Riau, where he lives, according to the New York Times.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
This 11-year-old's dance on a boat turned into a viral trend, and then a government title: Meet ‘aura farmer' Dika
If you have a social media account and a debilitating addiction to scrolling, like most of us do, chances are you've seen that kid, the on dancing on the tip of a boat. Meet Rayyan Arkan Dikha, or just Dika, the 11-year-old sensation from Indonesia who's been dubbed the ultimate 'aura farmer' by the internet. Meet Rayyan Arkan Dikha Dika went viral earlier this year after a video showed him dancing effortlessly on the bow of a boat during Pacu Jalur, a traditional boat race held annually in the Indonesian province of Riau. The clip, posted by TikTok user Lensa Rams, exploded online, with Dika's slick sunglasses, calm expression, and hypnotic movements instantly capturing hearts worldwide. He's not just vibing for fun, though; he's what's known in the tradition as a Tukang Tari, or dancer, whose job is to inspire the rowers throughout the race. Each boat has its own Tukang Tari, but Dika's performance has become symbolic of the entire festival. And for good reason, he's been doing this since he was 9. The internet, of course, did what it does best: turned the moment into a meme, a trend, and a cultural moment. From NFL star Travis Kelce jokingly comparing his own moves to Dika's (in a post that racked up 13 million views), to baseball team Party Animals recreating the dance on a field, to Diego Luna of the U.S. men's soccer team busting out the moves after a goal, Dika's influence is everywhere. So, what is aura farming? Basically, the higher your aura, the cooler you are. And kids have always wanted to be cool, which is why there has to be a way to farm it, right? According to the Guardian's Bertin Huynh and Luca Ittimani here's how to aura farm: 'By the simple act of being cool or mysterious: striking a cool pose, or performing great feats of coolness – a strike when you go bowling, flawlessly landing rubbish in the bin from 5 metres away, or completing a new personal best at the gym.' The phrase itself took off last year, in the context of anime characters and influencers who do repetitive, confident things just to look cool. Think stoic glances, signature gestures, or — like Dika — hypnotic dancing in dramatic settings. From meme to ambassador Dika's viral fame has translated into real-life recognition. Last week, the government of Riau named him a tourism ambassador, praising his ability to inspire local kids to engage with their culture. Governor Abdul Wahid even awarded Dika a scholarship worth 20 million rupiah (about $1,200) toward his education. The ceremony featured none other than Dika himself, dancing alongside the governor. 'Wow, I'm so happy,' Dika said in Indonesian in the government's official announcement. 'I never imagined I'd meet the governor.' And with Pacu Jalur set to return next month, Dika's moment is far from over.
India.com
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
What is Aura Farming? Meet the boy behind the viral video which sparked global dance trend, boy is from...
New Delhi: An Indonesian boy shaking his legs on the front of a boat has taken the internet by storm, sparking a global trend known as 'aura farming.' The viral moment has been recreated by famous athletes and thousands of fans around the world. 'Aura farming' is an Internet expression popularized in 2024, largely in reference to anime characters and celebrities. It refers to the act of consistently looking cool to build one's 'aura.' 11-year-old Rayyan Arkhan Dikha from Indonesia's Riau dressed in a black traditional costume and wearing sunglasses has been dubbed in the sociala media as 'the ultimate aura farmer'. He performed a series of repetitive movements calmly on the bow of a thin boat, videos of which have amassed millions of views globally. The Indonesian boy who goes by the name of Dika was participating in a local event known as 'pacu jalur,' which roughly translates to 'boat race.' A tradition that dates back to the early 17th century, the event is now held every August to commemorate the Indonesian Independence Day. Bros job is to aura farm — Out of Context Human Race (@NoContextHumans) July 5, 2025 Indonesia's Culture Minister Fadli Zon Issues Statement After hosting Dika in his office in Jakarta on Wednesday, Indonesia's Culture Minister Fadli Zon released a statement and said 'Pacu jalur has been one of Indonesia's Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2015.' 'It has always been a part of life for people in (Kuantan Singingi), including to celebrate the most important Islamic holidays and also our independence day,' Fadli added. An Indonesian boy dancing on the front of a boat has recently taken the internet by storm, sparking a global trend known as 'aura farming.' The viral moment has been recreated by famous athletes and thousands of fans around the world.
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
What is ‘aura farming'? This Indonesian tween will show you
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The video of Dika dancing on the boat has gone viral, with many recreating the dance on social media. In the past few weeks, Rayyan Arkan Dikha, an 11-year-old boy who lives in Indonesia and, according to his local government, goes by Dika, has been hard to miss on social media, even if you have never heard of his name. A video of him dancing on the front of a boat has become an internet sensation and is the reason 'aura farming' has become a popular phrase. The video has been overlaid with various songs, imitated by countless creators, commented on by celebrities and, most recently, led to Dika being named a tourism ambassador for Riau, the province in Indonesia where he lives. While many of the videos featuring Dika have amassed millions of views around the world, his popularity in the United States – and the explosion in use of the phrase 'aura farming' – has come despite relatively little information being available about him or the race he competes in. What is aura farming? According to the website Know Your Meme, the expression was popularised in 2024 largely in reference to anime characters and various celebrities. It generally refers to someone who does something repetitive to look cool and build, as Gen Alpha would say, aura. Dika, who seems strangely calm on the bow of a thin boat, dressed in black and wearing sunglasses, uses a series of repetitive movements in his dance, making him a perfect fit for the term. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore boosts nuclear viability, safety research with new institute and $66m in additional funding Singapore More than 14,300 people checked during 7-week-long anti-crime ops Singapore Over 12,000 lower-income households to receive $60 in transport vouchers by end-July Singapore NDP 2025: Leopard tank transmission fault identified, vehicle to resume role in mobile column Life Anti-smoking advisory in new plaque for controversial samsui woman mural World Trump nominates 'alpha male' influencer to be ambassador to Malaysia Business CEO pay: At Singapore's top companies, whose pay went up and whose saw a drop? Business Popiah king Sam Goi makes $123.5 million offer to buy rest of PSC Why is he dancing on the front of a boat? In the original video, which was posted on TikTok in January 2025 by a user named Lensa Rams, Dika is participating in an event in Riau called Pacu Jalur, which roughly translates to 'boat race'. It is part of an annual festival that dates back hundreds of years, and each of the long canoe-like boats in the race has, as part of its large crew, a Tukang Tari who dances and provides inspiration for the rowers. Dika, who has participated in the races since he was 9, has become the face of the tradition, but each boat has its own Tukang Tari, and each brings a different vibe to the race. How has this spread so quickly? The video has been around for months – Pacu Jalur is held in August – but it has exploded in popularity in the last few weeks, at least partly because the dance is easy to imitate. In addition to the various creators on Instagram and TikTok who have tried their hand at Dika's dance, it has been posted about by Travis Kelce, the NFL star and boyfriend of Taylor Swift, who compared his own moves to Dika's in a video with more than 13 million views. The dance was recreated on a baseball field by the Party Animals, a rowdier cousin of the Savannah Bananas, with a TikTok of their rendition receiving more than 5 million views. It was even used as a goal celebration by Diego Luna of the United States men's national soccer team in a win over Guatemala last week. Is the kid getting anything for all this attention? On July 8 , the government in Riau, citing the impact of the video and the fact that he had been 'inspiring local kids to embrace and preserve their traditions,' named Dika as a tourism ambassador for the province. The Riau governor, Mr Abdul Wahid, awarded him a scholarship for 20 million rupiah (S$1579) for his education. Dika also performed a rendition of his dance along with Mr Wahid and other officials. 'Wow, I'm so happy,' Dika said in Indonesian in a notice from the government about the scholarship. 'I never imagined I'd meet the governor.' He can most likely expect quite a bit more attention when Pacu Jalur returns in August . NYTIMES
