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Sojourn: Sigi sacred festival - 'A grand celebration of the solar eclipse'
People in Bali are well placed to witness the upcoming total solar eclipse â although in the Denpasar area it will be a partial eclipse, visible through most of the Indonesian archipelago, stretching across Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan and the Maluku Islands
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People in Bali are well placed to witness the upcoming total solar eclipse ' although in the Denpasar area it will be a partial eclipse, visible through most of the Indonesian archipelago, stretching across Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan and the Maluku Islands. It will also be visible from several locations in the Pacific Ocean.
On March 8 through 9, Indonesia is expected to welcome thousands of scientists coming from all parts of the world to witness this extraordinary natural phenomenon that occurs every 250 years.
Scientifically, a solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun from Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight and turning the day into darkness.
In Bali, this occurrence will take place on the morning of March 9 and is expected to peak at 8:27 a.m.
This grandest of natural spectacles is not only associated with scientific knowledge but also with cultures, myths, legends and superstitions.
Throughout history, solar eclipses have caused fear, curiosity and even happiness.
For centuries, indigenous people have tried to understand why the Sun temporarily vanishes from the sky, making up many reasons for what causes solar eclipses.
In Vietnam, for instance, people believed that a giant was devouring the sun, while the Chinese believed that the celestial dragon was eating it up.
Fear of solar eclipses still exists today and many people around the world still view them as an evil omen that brings destruction and disaster.
A popular misconception is that solar eclipses may endanger pregnant women and their unborn babies and, in many cultures, young children and pregnant women are required to stay indoors during a solar eclipse.
People in Indonesia are no exception. Myths and legends surround these rare occurrences.
In Palu, Central Sulawesi, where the solar eclipse will be clearly visible this time, there will be various activities, both scientific and cultural.
On the Mount Matantimali, home to the Da'a indigenous tribe of Central Sulawesi, hundreds of musicians, artists and scholars will observe the solar eclipse by holding the Sigi Sacred Festival, taking place from March 6 through 9.
For the indigenous Da'a tribe in Sigi, the solar eclipse, which will bring total darkness, has to be responded to by holding a special ritual to save the Earth and its people.
The Sigi Sacred Arts Festival aims to bring together indigenous people and artists from around the world, including from India, Australia, the Netherlands and South Korea, as well as local tribes.
These people will perform rituals and performing arts to observe this rare natural phenomenon.
The festival is also intended to preserve and provide a global platform for the sacred arts of indigenous peoples across the globe.
