The turn of the year in a number of regions featured with prayers and hopes that the year 2018 will be better than the previous year.
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Kompas/Ferganata Indra Riatmoko
People release floating lanterns at midnight on Monday, January 1, to celebrate the New Year at the Borobudur Temple compound in Magelang, Central Java. The photograph was taken using the double lighting technique.
AMBON, KOMPAS – The turn of the year in a number of regions was not only filled with mere merriment, but also featured prayers and hopes that the year 2018 will be better than the previous year. Meanwhile, a feeling of concern over natural disasters and the threat of disharmony loomed over New Year celebrations.
Maluku governor Said Assagaff, moments before the turn of the year on the Red White Bridge, which stretches above the Ambon Bay, Ambon city, Sunday (31/12), expressed hope that the people of Maluku would maintain harmony after the region’s history of conflict dating back dozens of years. The hope was strengthened through mass prayers led by representatives of every religion.
At the same event, there was also an inter-faith musical collaboration. Muslim youths played the tambourine, combined with trumpet blows from the Christian youths. They played traditional local songs, national songs and religious songs.
“Hopefully, in the future Maluku will continue to be safe. Thank you to the people, the TNI [Indonesian Military], Polri [National Police] and all the parties that have continued to preserve the peace in Maluku. Happy New Year 2018,” Said said.
He also reminded everyone that the year 2018 is the year of politics because Maluku will be holding a gubernatorial election. The political dynamics should not cause the people to be divided and lead to conflicts.
According to Said, Maluku has continued to develop after experiencing conflicts in 1999. Maluku’s economic growth has now reached 5.68 percent, exceeding the national economic growth. At the time of conflict, Maluku’s economic growth plummeted to minus 27 percent.
“The conflict was really painful, it really hurts. Let there be no more,” said Anna Tetelepta, 42, an Ambon local who had lost her family in the conflict and was forced to evacuate.
La Haris, 49, another local, believes that the conflict occurred mostly because of the interests of the elite. “The people that do not know anything became the victims,” he said.
The atmosphere at Borobudur Temple, Mageleng regency, Central Java, also felt solemn because of the many prayers made for the year 2018. These were not only the private prayers of the visitors, as there were also five religious leaders in attendance, who led a prayer for the nation and the country.
“Hopefully in this new year the people of Indonesia are given the blessing of health, blessing to their economy and also to their generation,” said Islamic religious leader KH Ali Munawar.
Hindu religious leader Triyatmono said all Indonesians are brothers. Therefore, everyone has a responsibility of realizing a life that is peaceful and mutually harmonious. “Peace at heart, peace on earth, peace forever,” he said.
Pastor Yohanes Sungadi, a Christian religious leader, emphasized the spirit of brotherhood and patriotism, and also asked the visitors to shout a greeting of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI): “May the blessing of God always be with us,” he said.
The New Year’s Eve celebration in Mataram, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, went without the lighting of fireworks and the blowing of trumpets. This was a show of solidarity to a number of regions, including West Nusa Tenggara and countries overseas, which had been hit by disasters caused by extreme weather.
Without fireworks
The Mataram city administration urged the people of the city to celebrate the turn of the year humbly. “We need to have sensitivity. We are having a fun new year celebration while many of our brothers are still facing calamity caused by extreme weather,” said Lalu Martawang, Assistant I at the Mataram city administration regional secretariat.
To welcome the year 2018, the mayor of Solo, Central Java, FX Hadi Rudyatmo, asked the people of Solo to strengthen the spirit of unity and cooperation to create a Solo that is better than it was in the previous year. The people were also asked to ensure that Solo remains safe, comfortable and full of peace.
“By sounding a gong, the aim is to announce to all the people of Indonesia and the world that Solo is a city of culture that is safe and comfortable to be visited by anyone,” said Rudyatmo.
Meanwhile, the people in Serang and Cilegon, Banten, welcomed the New Year by reciting zikir (religious chants). The mass zikir was held in various places including in Al-Bantani Grand Mosque, Serang city, Banten, Sunday. The event, which was called Mosque Youth Development and Mass Reflection, saw around 300 students taking part.
According to Endad Musadad, the mosque welfare secretary of Al-Bantani Grand Mosque, the participants of the event were mosque youths from the regencies of Serang and Pandeglang, as well as Serang city. Other than doing zikir, they also engaged in discussions about leadership, rhetoric and the motivation of living life and religion.
“Their akidah (creed), akhlak (morals) and ibadah (worship) will be improved. Their good attitude will be continued, while those that are not so good will be improved,” said Endad.
In the area of Puncak, Bogor and Cianjur regencies, West Java, the locals celebrated the New Year with traffic jams, firework parties and music shows in a number of hotels.
