Fun and festivities in Indonesia - celebrations, festivals and cultural events

Indonesia is a mix of cultures, religions, and traditions. 13 public holidays are celebrated here. Every island also has its own festivals and local celebrations. The government recognizes 6 religions. Many religious holidays are state (national) holidays. Religious holidays do not have exact dates. This is due to the fact that Muslim holidays are determined according to the lunar calendar and/or the phases of the moon. The dates of the Hindu festivals are determined according to the Saka calendar. It is based on the ancient number system. The world celebrates the New Year on January 1. The New Year does not come on this day for Hindus and Muslims. But the New Year began to be actively celebrated on the western model in recent years in Indonesia. Celebrations are held with fun, parties, and dancing. This applies mainly to large cities. The New Year according to the Chinese (lunar calendar) is celebrated in January-February. This is a family holiday. All relatives go to visit each other. Children go from house to house and receive sweets or money on this day. Shopping centers are lavishly decorated. They hold huge sales. Chinese New Year is a day off.

The Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) follows the end of the Holy month of Ramadan. This is a Muslim holiday. This day is an official holiday. It is dedicated to a religious event: the Allah through the Archangel Jibrīl commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his son. He was replaced by a lamb at the last moment. Thousands of people gather at the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta on this day. People go to visit and invite guests on this day. It is customary to meet this day in new clothes. Therefore, the holiday is one more reason for shopping.

Balinese New Year (Hari Raya Nyepi) is celebrated in March and April. The kissing ceremony that young people practice is one of the most fun rituals. Other customs are also unusual. People paint their faces and walk the streets, making as much noise as possible. It is believed that the Lord of hell sends demons and evil spirits to earth on this day. But the noise scares them away. The next day is a day of silence. The lights go out on this day. People devote themselves to self-contemplation. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Kartini Day is celebrated on April 21. This is a day of struggle for women's rights. Lady Kartini was the daughter of a Javanese nobleman, an activist for women's rights for education. The day is not a day off.

The country's Muslims celebrate the New Year in the first month of the lunar Muslim calendar. Good Friday, celebrated by Christians, is also a national holiday. The birthday of the prophet Muhammad, Easter, Ascension Day, Isra and Miʿraj (the night journey of the prophet Muhammad to Jerusalem and his ascension to heaven), and Christmas are also celebrated. All holidays except Christmas do not have an exact date.

Independence Day from Dutch rule is celebrated on August 17. The date is grandly celebrated in cities and villages.

Education Day (May 2), Children's Day (July 23), National Sports day (September 8), Armed Forces Day (October 5), and Women's Day (December 22) are also celebrated in Indonesia.

An unusual religious festival takes place in the province of Bengkulu in Sumatra. It is dedicated to a tragic event – the death of the prophet's grandson, Hassan Hussein. The festival culminates in a procession carrying turrets topped with replicas of Hussein's coffin. The battle in which Hussein died is also replayed. The Chinese Confucian Toa Peh Kong Festival is held in Manado in Sulawesi. The colorful procession includes horses, children in Chinese costumes, and boats.

The Festival of the Dead is held in Toraja in Sulawesi. This place is famous for its strange and complex burial traditions. They last for years (the deceased is in the house at this time). They are so expensive that people take on debt for them. The Yadnya Kasada Ceremony in East Java is performed by the tengressi. They are the descendants of the 13th-century Majapahit princes who live on Mount Bromo. This commune is Hindu despite the fact that Muslims live in Java mostly. A solemn procession ascends the mountain and throws various offerings into the volcano's mouth: fruits, flowers, and even money. The ceremony has its origins in pagan beliefs in the gods of Vulcan.

Reconstructions of tribal wars are carried out in the Wamena town in Papua. Bull races are held after the harvest festival on Madura.

Pagan traditions are still strong in some regions. Several festivals and ceremonies dedicated to the celebration of the sea goddess Nyai Roro Kidul. The Muslim ceremony is held in the city of Yogyakarta in Java. Gifts to the Goddess are actually brought during it. These are fruits, flowers, and silk.

Wesak is a Buddhist festival. It includes simultaneously honoring three events: the birth of Siddhartha, enlightenment, and the death of Gautama Buddha. Offerings of flowers, candles, and fruit are made in temples.