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Celebrations to go ahead despite grim end of year
Closed off: A policeman displays a map regarding alternative traffic routes in Kota Tua, West Jakarta, on Tuesday
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Closed off: A policeman displays a map regarding alternative traffic routes in Kota Tua, West Jakarta, on Tuesday. Traffic will be diverted to alternatives routes in the area because of New Yearâs Eve celebrations. (JP/Awo) (JP/Awo)
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span class="inline inline-none">Closed off: A policeman displays a map regarding alternative traffic routes in Kota Tua, West Jakarta, on Tuesday. Traffic will be diverted to alternatives routes in the area because of New Year's Eve celebrations. (JP/Awo)
New Year's Eve celebrations are still the main item on the agenda for citizens and regional administrations across the archipelago despite numerous disasters, such as floods, fires, landslides and transportation accidents marking the year's end.
Fitri Astuti, a student in Semarang, Central Java, plans to watch a firework display at her favorite place: the peak of Gombel Hill, south of the town. 'I usually watch fireworks from Tabanas Park, on the road up to Gombel Hill,' Fitri said.
For her, watching fireworks is the best way to spend New Year's Eve with her friends. 'It's cheap and we all get excited watching them. But we have to arrive early to get a good spot because many people also wish to watch the fireworks from there,' she said.
During the height of the New Year's Eve celebrations, firework displays will be held in a number of locations in Semarang, including the Simpang Lima area and Marina Beach.
Also in Central Java, the city of Surakarta, known as Solo, will hold the Solo Car Free Night for the fourth time. Surakarta Tourism and Culture Office head Eny Tyasni Suzana said her office had no intention of canceling the festivities.
'We will kick off the event with umbul donga [prayer chants], in the hope that next year will be better than this and we will also pray for residents affected by the Klewer Market blaze,' said Eny, referring to the biggest textile market in Central Java, destroyed in a fire on Saturday.
At least nine stages will be set up on Jl. Slamet Riyadi ' Solo's main thoroughfare ' with the main stage in the Gladag area. On the main stage, a joint wayang dance drama performance will be put on by the legendary Wayang Orang Sriwedari theatrical group, the SMKI Arts high school, Radio Republik Indonesia and the Surakarta Arts Institute. They will perform Sirnaning Angkara Murka (The Demise of Evil).
In Bandung, West Java, New Year's Eve celebrations are expected to cause severe traffic congestion as the Bandung municipality and a television station will hold events on Jl. Ir. H. Juanda, more popularly known as Jalan Dago, the city's main north-south thoroughfare.
Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil will inaugurate the 10,000-square-meter City Square Park before the turn of the year. The municipality has been revamping the park for the past four months funded by corporate social responsibility funds worth between Rp 5 billion (US$416,000) and Rp 10 billion.
'The park will be inaugurated in the morning of New Year's Eve and an istigosah [mass prayer] will be held at the site,' said Ridwan.
The municipality has also given permission to the TV station to hold a music show during New Year's Eve on the street.
In Banda Aceh, Deputy Mayor Illiza Saaduddin has again banned residents from celebrating New Year's Eve in any form as it is not regarded as a part of the Islamic tradition. 'Islam has its own new year, so Muslim residents should not celebrate [New Year's Eve],' said Illiza.
To ensure the ban is observed by residents, the municipality will mobilize sharia police and public order agency personnel to patrol the city before the turn of the year.
Aceh is the only province that implements sharia in Indonesia.
In North Sumatra, the local municipality will hold a people's party to greet New Year's Eve at Merdeka Square in Medan on Wednesday.
The festivity, costing more than Rp 700 million, will be held from 9 p.m. until the turn of the year.
Medan Tourism and Culture Office Marketing Affairs head Zulfisyah Yanda Siregar said a number of activities would be held during the People's Party, including joint prayers and entertainment involving local entertainers and national pop stars at Merdeka Square.
' Apriadi Gunawan, Arya Dipa, Hotli Simanjuntak and Slamet Susanto contributed to this story
