South Kalimantan Province is located on the island of Kalimantan. The capital city is Banjarmasin. The South Kalimantan Province borders with Central Kalimantan Province in the west, Makasar Strait in the east, the Java Sea in the south, and East Kalimantan Province in the north. The total area of South Kalimantan Province is 37,530.52 km² with a population of 4,120,000 in 2017. The native tribes that inhabit the province of South Kalimantan are Banjar (74.34), Java (14.51%), and Bugis (2.81%). The majority of the population are Moslem (96.23%), Hindu (1.61%), and Protestant Christians (1.26%).
The history of Kalimantan Selatan was marked by the Kingdom of Tanjung Puri existed around 5-6th Century. The Javanese knights built the Negara Daha empire and ruled the region in the 14th century. In 1526, the kingdom of Banjarmasin emerged in the region and developed into a major maritime kingdom until the end of the 18th century. South Kalimantan was also under the domination of the Dutch and British colonials from the 17th to 19th centuries.
As one of the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia, Banjar tribe has undergone the acculturation process during the Hindu, Buddha, and Islamic era. For example, Baayun Mulud Festival is a blend of local tradition with Islamic culture. Baayun tradition is a traditional activity of swinging a baby or child accompanied by the praising songs for the Prophet. Banjar tribe’s way of life is also reflected in the Traditional House called ‘Bubungan Tinggi’. In the past, Bubungan Tinggi was a special traditional house for the royal family, which later became an icon of the Banjar tribe. The floating market is also a Banjar community tradition that has been passed down for generations. The Floating Market has a unique character as the buying and selling transactions take place on the wooden boat on the Barito River. Both sellers and buyers face the challenge to maintain the balance of the boat, which is constantly moved by the swaying waves of the river.