Indonesia — Events
Kawin Tebu Ceremony
April 1, 2012 - April 30, 2012
The annual Kawin Tebu Ceremony is a particularly popular festival amongst the region’s many sugar cane planters and workers but usually involves the whole community. It takes place in the days leading up to the new planting season with many prayer sessions taking place in the hope of a good harvest for the coming year’s crop. Traditional food and drink, dancing, songs and story telling make for a lively festival.
Ramayana Ballet
May 1, 2012 - October 31, 2012
The Ramyana Ballet is a dramatic performance that tells the story of Ramayana, the classic Hindu tale of honor, magic and courage. Performed on various dates over a six-month period, the Ramyana Ballet involves hundreds of dancers and is performed in a wonderful outdoor setting within the country’s famous Prambanan temple complex. Built in the ninth century, the temple is the largest complex of its kind in Java and is famed throughout the whole of Indonesia for its spectacular beauty.
Waisak
May 17, 2012
Honored by Buddhist communities all over the world, Wesak celebrates Buddha’s birthday, enlightenment and death. The day is recognized on the eighth day of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar and celebrations take place at Buddhist temples throughout Java and one of the biggest celebrations takes place at Borobodur in Yogyakarta. This spectacular Buddhist monument was built in the ninth century and provides a stunning backdrop for the occasion.
Bogor Botanic Gardens Anniversary
May 18, 2012
Regarded as one of the finest public gardens in Indonesia, the Bogor Botanic Gardens is a magnificent site covering an area of 87 hectares (about 217.5 acres) and filled with wonderful plants, flowers and trees. It was founded in 1817 by Casper Georg Carl Reinwardt, a German who studied in Holland and moved to Indonesia where he became the Director of agricultural business, arts and sciences for Java and the neighboring islands. To this day, the park continues to garner international acclaim as one of the finest gardens in the region.
Dugderan
July 25, 2012 - July 31, 2012
Dugderan is a week-long festival that takes place in the run-up to the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Seen as the last chance for exuberance and indulgence before the solemnity of the following month, Dugderan has a great celebratory feel and is a time for all the family. Visitors can wonder through the bazaar with its lively mix of food and souvenir stalls. Festivities come to a close with a fireworks display and the beating of a large drum which marks the start of Ramadan.
Musi Festival
August 17, 2012
As part of Indonesia’s Independence Day celebrations, each year the Bidar Race is held on the Musi River in Palembang. Teams of approximately 40 rowers man each boat which are usually shaped like animals. An arts and crafts fair and other celebrations take place along the banks of the river.
Parade Kuda Kosong
August 17, 2012
In this moving and solemn ceremony, a procession of devotees follows behind a horse amidst the heavy aroma of incense. Shaded by an umbrella, the horse has no rider as it is believed that it is ridden by Eyang Suryakencana, a revered ancestor of the Cianjur people who inhabit this area.
Traditional Boat Races
August 17, 2012
Known throughout the region for its many rivers, the Indonesian province of South Kalimantan each year hosts the Traditional Boat Races at the provincial capital of Banjarmasin. Held on the Martapura river which runs through the city, the event is part of Indonesia’s Independence Day celebrations and always attracts large and enthusiastic crowds.
Hari Proklamasi Indonesia (Independence Day)
August 17, 2012
Hari Proklamasi is an Indonesian celebration that remembers the proclamation of independence which brought an end to over 350 years of Dutch colonial rule. Events take place throughout the region and particularly in the capital city, Jakarta. The most spectacular of the events is the military parade and a solemn flag-raising ceremony which is attended by the President and other members of the cabinet. Other less formal events take place all over Indonesia ranging from cultural performances to sporting events.
