A dance attached to the phrase was popularized by a viral video of an 11-year-old Indonesian boy, Rayyan Arkan Dikha, performing a rhythmic dance on the bow of a traditional racing boat during the Pacu Jalur festival in Riau, Indonesia. [3] Dikha's preternaturally calm performance on the bow of a thin boat, using a series of repetitive movements, made him a perfect fit for the term. [1] [4]
Origins and viral spread
The trend originated from a video of Rayyan Arkan Dikha, a fifth-grade student from Kuantan Singingi Regency, acting as the Togak Luan or Tukang Tari (the dancer) at the front of a long, canoe-like boat during a national Pacu Jalur competition in late June 2025. [5] In the video, Dikha, wearing a traditional Teluk Belanga outfit with a Malay Riau headcloth and sunglasses, performs a series of calm, repetitive dance moves to energize the rowers. He stated that he created the dance spontaneously. [6]
The video was first posted on TikTok and went viral in mid-2025. [7] [8] Social media users began remixing the clip with various songs under hashtags like "aura farming kid on boat," amassing millions of views. [6] According to The New York Times , the trend made Dikha "hard to miss on social media" in mid-2025. [1]
Following the viral fame of the trend, its originator, Rayyan Arkan Dikha, was appointed as a cultural and tourism ambassador for Riau province by the local governor. [9] He and his mother were invited to the capital, Jakarta, to meet with the country's Ministers of Culture and Tourism. [9] He was also awarded a government scholarship. [10]
Cultural context of Pacu Jalur
Pacu Jalur is a traditional longboat rowing race unique to Kuantan Singingi, dating back to the 19th century. [5] The term "Pacu" means race and "Jalur" refers to the long boats used. [6] The Togak Luan (or Tukang Tari) is a child performer whose role is to hype the team and signal to spectators when the boat is leading. [11] The role requires significant balance, which is why children are often chosen over adults. [5] Indonesia's Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, acknowledged the skill required, stating, "Maintaining balance as a dancer who motivates the Pacu Jalur rowing team is truly not simple." [7]
