The Cultural Parade and Ogoh-Ogoh Festival celebrating Nyepi, the Saka New Year 1948, took place in a lively atmosphere at the National Monument (Monas) area in Jakarta on Sunday. The event was officially flagged off by the Director General of Hindu Community Guidance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, I Nengah Duija, with the parade route starting from Patung Kuda Monas heading to Bundaran Hotel Indonesia.
The cultural festival was joined by thousands of Hindus from across the Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek), showcasing various ogoh-ogoh sculptures in a colorful cultural procession. Despite intermittent rain, participants remained enthusiastic throughout the parade, which forms part of a series of events leading up to the Nyepi celebration.
In his remarks, I Nengah Duija expressed appreciation for the enthusiasm of the Hindu community who continued to participate in the parade despite unfavorable weather conditions. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the spirit of togetherness and cultural pride during the sacred celebration.
“Even though it is raining, we must remain enthusiastic in carrying out this cultural parade and ogoh-ogoh procession. May this year’s Nyepi celebration bring renewed spirit and happiness to all of us,” he said.
He also conveyed his appreciation to the Hindu community across Jabodetabek for organizing the cultural parade and ogoh-ogoh festival as part of efforts to enliven the Nyepi celebration while introducing cultural values to the wider public.
“In welcoming Nyepi, Hindus in Jabodetabek organize this cultural parade and ogoh-ogoh festival as a way to preserve tradition and strengthen togetherness. This is something we should truly appreciate,” he added.
The Jakarta Provincial Government also expressed its support for the festival. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo and Vice Governor Rano Karno, who were present at the event, conveyed their appreciation for the participation of the Hindu community in organizing a vibrant and meaningful cultural celebration.
They noted that the rain earlier in the morning did not diminish the spirit of togetherness in celebrating the cultural diversity of the capital city. According to them, the event symbolizes the harmonious coexistence of Jakarta’s pluralistic society.
This year’s ogoh-ogoh parade involved nearly 2,000 participants and featured around 13 to 15 ogoh-ogoh sculptures in a single cultural procession. These ogoh-ogoh figures symbolize negative traits within human beings that must be purified before observing the Catur Brata Penyepian during Nyepi Day.
The cultural parade and ogoh-ogoh festival were the result of collaboration between the Jakarta Provincial Government and Hindu organizations such as Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia, along with various Hindu communities in Jakarta.
Beyond being a religious tradition, the event is also part of the cultural calendar developed by the Jakarta Provincial Government to strengthen harmony and tolerance amid the capital’s diverse society.
During the festival, staff members from the Directorate General of Hindu Community Guidance also participated by performing the traditional Balinese beleganjur music ensemble. The rhythmic sounds of this traditional music added vibrancy to the parade atmosphere and accompanied the ogoh-ogoh along the procession route, reflecting the active participation of the Directorate’s staff in supporting the preservation of Hindu arts and culture.
Through this cultural parade and ogoh-ogoh festival, the spirit of unity, togetherness, and cultural preservation is expected to continue to grow in line with the celebration of Nyepi Day, Saka New Year 1948.
Translated by Muhammad Mahmud Alhushori
