The city will see big celebrations for New Year’s Eve, including fireworks and various entertainment throughout the city.
Jakarta spokesman Cucu Ahmad Kurnia said Thursday, residents could see fireworks at Ancol Dreamland Park in North Jakarta, Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII) in East Jakarta, and Kelapa Gading, in North Jakarta.
In Ancol, the fireworks will be at Carnival Beach, Festival Beach and Putri Duyung Beach.
“There will be many musical performances in Ancol,” he said. “In Pasar Seni, we can see a night-long puppet show and betawi lenong [drama performance].”
He said Governor Fauzi Bowo was scheduled to celebrate the New Year in Ancol.
General Manager of Corporate Communication of Summarecon, Cut Meutia, said La Piazza Kelapa Gading would offer a carnival and circus to visitors.
She said the circus would be filled with street magicians, clowns, fire eaters, juggling and live bands. It will also showcase a food bazaar, fashion show, a cabaret show and fortune tellers.
“There will be 3,002 fireworks to celebrate the new year. We guarantee that it will be as competitive as other places,” she told beritajakarta.com recently.
Tickets for the event, she said, would be available at Rp 75,000 (US$7.5) in Kelapa Gading Mall and La Piazza.
Meanwhile, TMII also promises a merry celebration in Plaza Arsipel, Northern Park and Southern Park from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., featuring band performances, traditional performances, games and 2,010 kinds of fireworks, according to its official website.
Cucu said many people were predicted to go to Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta, and city landmarks, including the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta and the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.
Culture and Tourism Agency chief Arie Budiman said he did not suggest people go to Monas because although the location was open until 3 a.m., it did not offer any entertainment and fireworks were prohibited. “I am concerned with rubbish because the next day will be a holiday and if Monas has lots of visitors, cleaning officers will have to work hard because crowds will attract many street vendors,” he said.
At least 300 officers will safeguard roads around Monas to bar motorists and motorcyclists from parking there, in order to prevent traffic jams.
As of Wednesday, Arie said his agency had received permit requests from 150 organizers who were holding 192 events in the city. The Finance Ministry will also hold a shadow puppet show featuring famous puppet master Ki Manteb Sudarsono and Japanese sinden (traditional singer) Hiromi Kano.
Data from the tourism agency said Central Jakarta topped the position for event celebrations, which would be held in 55 locations, followed by South Jakarta, with 52 locations, West Jakarta, with 24 locations, North Jakarta, with 16 locations and East Jakarta, with 3 locations. Cucu said some Muslim religious events open to the public would be held in Kemang, in South Jakarta, At Tien mosque in TMII and Tugu Proklamasi in Central Jakarta.
He asked people not to litter as it could cause floods during the rainy season.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency official website forecasts light rain in North, South and East Jakarta and cloud in Central and West Jakarta on New Year’s eve.
The Jakarta Police will deploy some 7,300 officers to safeguard the celebrations.
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|