In Indonesia, joyful celebrations mark Islamic New Year

Amid the festivities, community leaders and clerics urge young people to preserve tradition and to practice tolerance.

By Zahara Tiba in Bogor and Yenny Herawati in Madiun for Khabar Southeast Asia

November 26, 2013
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Amiruddin Saputra led a group playing marawis – small double-sided hand drums – and chanting praise to Allah and his prophet as hundreds of youths in their best Muslim garb lit bamboo torches.

  • Amiruddin Saputra joins a torchlight parade in West Cilebut in Bogor, West Java, celebrating the Islamic New Year on November 5th. The 17-year-old led a group of drummers, including members of his Qur'an study group, to mark the festive occasion. [Zahara Tiba/Khabar]

    Amiruddin Saputra joins a torchlight parade in West Cilebut in Bogor, West Java, celebrating the Islamic New Year on November 5th. The 17-year-old led a group of drummers, including members of his Qur'an study group, to mark the festive occasion. [Zahara Tiba/Khabar]

  • Thousands of students march in Madiun to celebrate the Islamic New Year 1435 on November 5th. [Yenny Herawati/Khabar]

    Thousands of students march in Madiun to celebrate the Islamic New Year 1435 on November 5th. [Yenny Herawati/Khabar]

Adults too streamed into the field in the West Cilebut administrative village of Bogor, West Java as the community prepared for a traditional torchlight parade through local neighborhoods to mark Hijri New Year 1435, the Islamic New Year, on November 5th.

"Mostly kids and teenagers take part in the festivity. But grown-ups like my father also join us," Saputra, a Permata vocational school student in Bogor, told Khabar Southeast Asia. "It is my fifth year of participation, and I'm always excited."

Amiruddin said the torches-- cut from bamboo into 30cm pieces—were made by the youths.

At around 8pm, village head Muhadi took the microphone.

"The parade is held annually to celebrate the Islamic New Year," he said. "If we can make a celebration out of the ordinary New Year, we can also do it for the Islamic New Year.

"We hope to see the young generation help preserve it in the future. I wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year."

Followers of other religions were welcome to participate, he said, though none were seen at this year's event.

"But one thing is for sure here in Cilebut – people live side by side regardless of their religions," Muhadi said. "We help each other because we want to create a peaceful neighborhood.

"Lakum dinukum waliyadin; unto you your religion, and unto me my religion."

Before the march, a local Muslim leader prayed for Allah to bless the event. Ultimately, the parade caused a traffic jam as people watched, savoring the joyful moment.

A new start, in peace and tolerance

In Bandung, thousands of high school students crowded the Bandung Lautan Api historical monument to participate. Cirebon's torchlight parade also marked the city's 644th anniversary.

In the Depok area, local residents released hundreds of balloons, as reported by Beritasatu. In South Sumatra, people celebrated with a mass prayer (tabligh akbar) before the traditional decorated becak (rickshaw) parade.

In Madiun, East Java, the Islamic New Year was celebrated with a parade and feast.

Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) Chairman in Madiun Mufroil Aida told Khabar the Islamic New Year is an opportunity to build unity and inter-religious tolerance.

"We should not force our beliefs on others. Instead, we need to respect people's rights, including their rights to have a certain religion," he said during the commemoration of the Islamic New Year in Gading, a pesantren in Madiun.

"Islam teaches us to be tolerant. Islam does not justify any violence in the name of religion," he added.

Muhammad Zaenuri, an Islamic teacher at Madrasah Aliyah in Madiun, said several activities can be carried out to mark the Islamic New Year: parades, selamatan (a meal of thanksgiving) and ziarah (visiting relatives and decedents to show respect and honor).

"The parade was also attended by many non-Muslim students," Muhammad said of the Madiun event. "They are part of our commitment to live in peace and promote tolerance in the city."

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