Overview:
What began as a small community gathering around Palau’s beloved national soup has grown into one of Ngaraard State’s most anticipated cultural events. The Demok Festival, launched in 2022, now blends tradition, creativity and community giving — celebrating demok, local artistry and intergenerational pride while reinvesting directly into Ngaraard’s people and future.
By: Laurel Marewibuel
KOROR, Palau—The Demok Festival of Ngaraard State kicked off in 2022 as a grassroots ode to Palau’s national soup — a hearty, rich demok that screams local pride and heritage from Ngaraard itself, said organizer Ngaraard First Lady Lisa Sakuma.
“What started as a small gathering of family, friends, and community members with the simple goal of enjoying and sharing good food has evolved into a signature cultural event for Ngaraard and for Palau more broadly,” Lisa said.
From humble family pots to a buzzing draw for visitors nationwide and beyond, the festival has ballooned. Its debut zeroed in on safeguarding traditional cooking and community ties. Now? It’s packed with fresh flair: traditional dances, a youth fashion show, Demok 101 workshops, and displays of various taro kinds from Ngaraard and Palau.
“We’ve also built stronger partnerships with local artists, vendors, and community groups to create an experience that celebrates both tradition and contemporary Ngaraard creativity,” she added.
Fundraiser Fuels Community Roots
Beyond the savory slurps, the event doubles as a powerhouse fundraiser, channeling proceeds into youth programs, senior services, cultural preservation, and infrastructure — all while boosting the local makitgey economy that families rely on.
“The Demok Festival serves as both a cultural celebration and a community fundraiser. Proceeds from the event are reinvested directly into initiatives that benefit Ngaraard residents — from supporting local youth programs and senior citizen services to funding cultural preservation efforts and community infrastructure projects,” Lisa said. “More broadly, the festival strengthens community pride and intergenerational connection. It gives families a chance to come together, share recipes passed down through generations, and celebrate Ngaraard’s unique heritage.”
Attendees leave with full bellies and fuller hearts, she hopes.
“Ultimately, our hope is that everyone who attends walks away with a deeper appreciation for Palauan culture and the story behind demok; a sense that community traditions can be celebrated joyfully and sustainably; a feeling of connection — both to Ngaraard’s past and to all of the people shaping its future,” Lisa said.