At Agung Wira Satya Bhuana Temple in Gambir, Central Jakarta, the congregation is creating three ogoh-ogoh (giant effigies) to be paraded around the temple ahead of Nyepi.

The temple's art division head, Ketut Barack, said the effigies would be paraded on Wednesday around the temple from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.

“We will do that so Bhuta Kala [a devil character] will not bother the humans during Nyepi,” Ketut said on Tuesday, kompas.com reported.

He said the parade would end with the heads of the effigies decapitated to symbolize the change of negative energy into positive energy. 

Meanwhile, the East Jakarta Transportation Agency will reroute traffic around Aditya Jaya Temple in Rawamangun, East Jakarta.

“We do this every year. We have proposed the plan to the police and the transportation agency has allocated resources, road marks and traffic rerouting in case of traffic jams,” the agency's traffic division head, Andreas Eman, said.

He said Jl. Ahmad Yani in front of the temple had a slow and fast lane. However, during the celebration, the slow lane would be temporarily closed to provide additional parking spaces.

He said congregation members could also park at Jakarta State University (UNJ) near the temple.

“We expect people to drop off passengers near the temple and then look for parking so traffic congestion does not occur. People should also listen to instructions from our officers at the site,” Andreas said.

Around 5,000 are expected to attend the tawur agung kesanga procession before Nyepi on Wednesday at Jakarta's oldest temple. (ami)

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