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raditional parades, festivities and unique ceremonies marked Islamic New Year celebrations across Indonesia.

The Islamic New Year, the first day of the month of Muharram in the Islamic calendar, falls on the same day as the Javanese New Year, or the first day of Sura, the first month of the Javanese calendar.

In Malang regency, East Java, thousands of residents from different religious backgrounds witnessed on Thursday a traditional parade to celebrate the Islamic New Year in Wonosari village at the foot of Mount Kawi. Parade participants carried offerings and ogoh-ogoh (giant demonic effigies) along the village’s roads.

Village head Kuswanto said the event was also held to promote tolerance and togetherness among residents.

“Each ogoh-ogoh could cost up to Rp 5 million [US$375] which is split among residents regardless of their religious backgrounds,” he said. “Each year, we use a different theme for the ogoh-ogoh. Usually participants use characters from movies or TV dramas that are currently popular.”

The parade ended at the Pasarean field where the ogoh-ogoh were burned as a symbol of hopes that the following year would be free of misfortune.

The event has become a tourist attraction.

Rudi Mardiana, 56, a visitor from Bandung, West Java, said he and his family came to the village to celebrate the Islamic New Year and to pray for the success of his business.

“We come here every year, not only to pray at the foot of Mt. Kawi, but also to visit tourist attractions around Malang,” he said.

In Surakarta, Central Java, the festivities began on the eve of the Javanese New Year on Wednesday evening.

Thousands of people from Surakarta and neighboring areas such as Sragen, Karanganyar, Boyolali, Klaten, Sukoharjo and Wonogiri, flocked to the Pura Mangkunegaran principality compound to celebrate the eve of Sura 1.

Just as last year, Surakarta's Mangkunegaran principality celebrated the Javanese New Year one day ahead of the Kasunanan Surakarta Palace, which will celebrate it on Thursday.

The "Sacred Parade" kicked off at 7 p.m. Six royal servants carried sacred spears, and four other royal servants carried a loji construction on a palanquin containing kris and body armor that are legacies of the founder of Mangkunegaran Palace.

The parade’s participants walked around the compound’s 3-kilometer perimeter, led by GPH Bhre Cakrahutama Wira Sudjiwo, the son of Mangkunegara IX.

“Residents are welcome to join the parade, but they must not wear sandals or shoes. Participants are also prohibited from taking selfies,” Ngabehi Wadono Joko Pramudyo, a member of the parade’s committee, said.

Along the route, Mangkunegara IX threw udik-udik (small change, flowers and rice) to the spectators. Residents joyfully tried to catch them. It is believed that those who get udik-udik will receive blessings from the Surakarta Palace.

Also seen among the participants were Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, as well as Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo.

“This kind of traditional event is also good for tourism. I believe Surakarta will become a great cultural-heritage city,” Tjahjo said.

Samiyem, 64, a regular spectator from Tawangmangu, Karanganyar, said she was happy to get udik-udik. She said she would bury them at her farm in hopes that they would bring about a bountiful harvest.

“I also pray that it will be a symbol of health and good fortune for all of my family members,” said the grandmother of 11.

Thousands of residents also flocked to Brebes Square in front of the Brebes regency administration building in Central Java on the eve of the Javanese New Year.

They enjoyed the Parade of the Ta'aruf Festival, a traditional ceremony involving hundreds of students. Carrying torches, they marched in certain patterns, accompanied by Islamic musical rhythms played by another group of students from Islamic schools.

In Medan, hundreds celebrated Islamic New Year by taking part in a parade on Thursday.

Jakartans, meanwhile, commemorated the Islamic New Year with prayers.

The East Jakarta administration, for example, held a mass prayer event as well as a Gema Muharram parade in all districts.

Tourist attractions enjoyed a boost in visitor numbers during the holiday.

“More than 16,000 people came on Thursday,” manager of corporate communications at Ancol Dreamland Park in North Jakarta Rika Lestari told kompas.com on Thursday. (dis)
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Apriadi Gunawan contributed to the story from Medan