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Have something to say? Join LinkedIn for free to participate in the conversation.When you join, you can comment and post your own discussions.Dear All,
I wish you a pleasant Ramadan!
May Allah accept all your prayers in this Ramadan!Ramadan Mubarak!Are you sure you want to leave this group? CancelWhile living in Indonesia we have many opportunities to
enjoy long weekends and holidays as there are 13 national holidays proclaimed
by the government. The government also declares that collective leave should be taken on some days, usually a monday or Friday, before or after a national holiday in order to create a long weekend. This policy is intended to promote domestic tourism. You can also take advantage of the fact
that many hotels in tourist areas,
particularly in Bali, offer special rates to ITAS holders or expatriate residents during these long weekends for !
There are four types of holidays in Indonesia: religious,
national, international and commemorative. Ones that are designated tanggal
merah (literally red date, or a date that is designated in red on
a calendar) signify national holidays when government offices, schools,
banks, and most businesses are closed.
Many of the dates of religious holidays vary from year
to year, as they are based on other calendars. For example, the Muslim holidays are based on the Islamic or Jihriah calendar, which is 10 to 11 days shorter than the Roman calendar every year. Other holidays, such as Easter, Chinese New Year and Waisak are based on lunar calculations, as in other countries where these holidays are celebrated.
Official Indonesian Holiday Schedule for 2015
July 17-18, 2015 - Lebaran &
1436 Hijirah
July 16 & July 20, 2015 - Shared Public Holiday (Lebaran)
August 17, 2015
24, 2015 -
1436 Hijirah
October 14, 2015 -
1437 Hijirah
December 24, 2015 - Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad - Maulid Nabi Muhammad
December 25, 2015
Religious Holidays in Indonesia
The Indonesian government officially recognizes five religions: Islam,
Protestant, Catholic, Buddhist and Hindu. As /images in other countries, each of these religious communities in Indonesia
celebrate events that are important to their faith. Some of these are
national holidays, others are not.
The Ministry of Religion
decides the dates on which religious holidays will be held each year.
The following are faith-based holidays that are national holidays (tanggal
merah) in Indonesia:
Muslim holidays in Indonesia
The dates for many Muslim holidays vary from year to year as they are
based on the Islamic or Hijriah calendar, which is 10 to 11 days shorter
than the Roman calendar.
Satu Muharam or Tahun
Baru Hijrah - Muslim New Year - 1st day of Muharam
Marks the beginning of the new year on the Hijrah calendar.
Maulid Nabi - Birth of the Prophet Mohammad -
12th day of Rabiul Awal
Milad-un Nabi or Maulid (Mawlid) is the birthday celebration of the Prophet
Muhammad. The month of Rabi’ al-Awwal (the First Spring Season)
of the Islamic Calendar is well known in the entire Muslim world as Shahr
al-Mawhid (the Month of Birth) of the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet Muhammad
was born in the Arabian city of Mecca on the 12th day of Rabi-ul-Awwal
or the third month of the Muslim lunar year.
In Indonesia, Muslims gather to recite special prayers of thanksgiving
to Allah for sending the Prophet Muhammad as His messenger. Speeches and
lectures are made in mosques and elsewhere about the life and instructions
of the Holy Prophet. After prayers, sweets are distributed and perfume
may be sprinkled on adherents. It is al people dress
up in their best clothing and children receive money or gifts. In some
cities in Indonesia, such as Yogyakarta and Solo (Surakarta), believers
celebrate the Maulid by conducting parades or carnivals, reciting special
prayers and singing holy songs which they called ‘Barzanzi’.
The tradition is called the ‘Mauludan Festival’. During the
festival there are competitions to win food, which the people believe
has been blessed by the Prophet.
Isra Miraj - Ascension of the Prophet Mohammad
- 27th day of the 7th month
Commemorates the ascension of the Prophet Mohammad to Heaven. Prayers
are held at neighborhood mosques.
Hari Raya Idul Fitri or
- End of the Ramadan fasting month - 1 Syawal
The end of the month of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. Mass prayers
are held in mosques and large open areas
around the country. Celebrated with the traditional dish ketupat and
visiting with family and friends. Charity donations (amal) are
traditionally given at this time. Just prior to Lebaran a mass exodus
(mudik) from Jakarta of millions of people occurs as residents
return to their villages to celebrate with family and friends. Begging
of forgiveness for any transgressions or slights in the past year is expressed
during visits, Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin. A Lebaran bonus, THR,
is traditionally given to all Muslim staff or employees prior to the holidays.
In urban areas halal-bihalal (mutual begging of pardon) gatherings
are held. This is the time of year when Muslims traditionally buy new
Idul Adha or Lebaran Haji - Muslim Day
of Sacrifice - 10th day of Dzulhijjah
Commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son upon God's command.
Falls at the end of the annual Haj pilgrimage to Mecca. Mass prayers are
held in mosques and large open areas around the country. Animals are sacrificed
and the meat is given to the poor.
Christian holidays in Indonesia
Christian holidays fall on the same days as in other countries. The following
are national holidays:
Wafat Isa Almasih - Good
Friday - Commemorates the death of Jesus
Hari Paskah - Easter - Celebrates the day
Jesus arose from the dead
Kenaikan Isa Almasih - Ascension of Christ- Commemorates the day Jesus ascended into Heaven
Hari Natal - Christmas - Celebrates the
birth of Jesus Christ
Hindu holidays in Indonesia
Hari Raya Galungan - Galungan
Celebrates the coming of the Gods and the ancestral spirits to earth to
dwell again in the homes of the descendants. The festivities are characterized
by offerings, dances and new clothes.
Hari Raya Nyepi - Nyepi
Hindu Day of Silence or the Hindu New Year in the Balinese Saka calendar.
The largest celebrations are held in Bali as well as in Balinese Hindu
communities around Indonesia. On New Year's Eve the villages are cleaned,
food is cooked for two days and in the evening as much noise is made as
possible to scare away the devils. On the following day, Hindus do not
leave their homes, cook or engage in any activity. Streets are deserted,
and tourists are not allowed to leave hotel complexes.
Nyepi, or the
Day of Silence,
commemorates
the start of the Hindu New Year,
Nyepi is calculated according to
the &Caka lunar calendar and falls
at the time of the new moon in the
months of March or April each year.
The coming year will be 1932.
name Nyepi comes from the root
word &sepi& meaning quiet or silent.
Although it is a national holiday
enjoyed by Indonesian residents
throughout the country, Nyepi is
celebrated in particular on the island
of Bali where the majority of the 3.5
million inhabitants follow the Hindu
religion, as well as in Balinese Hindu
communities around Indonesia.
Hinduism in Bali bears only slight
resemblance to the religion as it is
practiced in India as the tenets of the
faith frst brought to Bali from the
14th century Majapahit Kingdom of
East Java, did not supplant the already existing strong religious beliefs
and rich cultural life of the Balinese.
Instead, Hinduism was blended with
indigenous traditions and beliefs
such as animism and ancestor worship to form a new and unique faith.
In Bali religion is a very important
part of everyday life and the people
perform daily offerings to the gods
and actively participate in the numerous temple festivals and rituals.
Balinese Hindus also make offerings
and perform temple rituals to placate
demons that they believe personify
the destructive forces of nature.
the day before Nyepi major offerings
are made to the demons at village
crossroads, where evil spirits are believed to loiter.
Before every ceremony a cleaning ceremony or mecaru
must be held to drive out the devils
and spiritually clean the place.
The broadcast facilities in Bali are also shut down for 24 hours from sunrise on Nyepi as a sign of respect for the beliefs of the Balinese people during the 24 hours of absolute silence. If you are in Bali in the days prior to Nyepi, you'll notice a lot of Melasti ceremonies at the beach, enjoy the processions and he noices on Nyepi eve, and a very quiet day stuck in your hotel or home on the actual Day of Silence.
One fun aspect of Nyepi,
is the omed-omedan
that follows Nyepi, held by the the people living in Banjar Kaja
Sesetan in downtown Denpasar!
Buddhist holidays in Indonesia
Hari Waisak - Waisak Day - Vesak - May
Commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha. This
celebration is enlivened by religious and social activities in Buddhist
temples around the country. In Indonesia, the largest Buddhist temples,
Candi Mendut and Candi Borobudur, both located in the Magelang Regency
of Central Java not far from Yogyakarta, are the focus of interest and
attract those observing the holiday and tourists.
Three major historical events are celebrated on Waisak. The first is
the birth of Siddhartha Gautama. The second is the acceptance of the divine
revelation under the Bodhi tree. And the third is the journey of Siddhartha
Gautama to heaven. These three big events occur exactly on the Full Moon
Purnama Sidhi. Thus, Waisak is also very well known as Tri Suci Waisak
or Three Holy Events. Buddhists celebrate Waisak by praying to their God
Sang Tri Ratna as thanks giving for creating and maintaining the earth
and its resources in harmony. It is very common for Buddhists to celebrate
Waisak with the presentation of fruit, flowers and candles. For Buddhists,
candles symbolize their philosophy of life, the sought-after enlightenment.
Provinces with a relatively high percentage of Buddhists are Jakarta,
Riau, North Sumatra, and West Borneo. Two of the large Buddhist monasteries
are located in North Jakarta (Sunter) and West Java (Pacet), where traditional
celebrations can be witnessed.
Although only about 1% of Indonesia&s population is Buddhist the whole country joins in honoring this special day celebrated by Buddhists in Indonesia.
Every year at Waisak an impressive ceremony is held at Borobudur in Central Java.
Borobudur is the second largest Buddhist temple in the world and an unequaled example of Buddhist architecture.
It was built in the eighth or ninth century by the Shailendra dynasty and depicts the Buddhist cosmos.
The monument is located on a hilltop and comprises a series of seven gray andesite stone terraces carved with narrative bas-reliefs depicting daily life, with rings of stupas enclosing statues of Buddha on the upper three levels and a massive closed stupa at the top.
The Great Stupa stands 40 meters above the ground.
Viewed from the air, Borobudur is laid out in the shape of a mandala, a Buddhist symbol used for meditation and prayer.
The walk around each level of the Borobudur symbolizes a pilgrim&s gradual ascent toward pure knowledge and enlightenment.
Since the monument was rediscovered (from the overgrowth in the forest) in the early 20th century it has undergone several restorations.
Nearby Mendut temple is an integral part of the Borobudur complex and is even older.
It is located three kilometers from Borobudur and it is believed that pilgrims passed through this smaller temple complex before ascending the great Borobudur monument. Likewise at Waisak, a procession of approximately 25,000 Buddhist devotees commences at Mendut and proceeds slowly to Borobudur, the array of robes, banners, flowers, incense, colors and sounds providing a feast for all of the senses.
Various sects or schools of Buddhism are united under the Council of Buddhist Communities (Walubi) that organizes the day&s events.
For the participants who gather to pay respect to
Waisak activities give strength to the spirit of all Buddhists.
Buddha developed himself to achieve perfect mindfulness by dedicating himself to liberate all beings from suffering.
Waisak reminds followers of Buddha to strive to become the best kind of human by sincerely and selflessly doing good deeds.
National Holidays
17th, Hari Proklamasi Indonesia - Indonesian Independence Day
Indonesians celebrate the proclamation of independence from 350 years
of Dutch colonial rule. Festivities abound in cities and villages alike,
organized by the government, neighborhood community associations and organizations. ?
International Holidays
January 1st, Tahun Baru - New Year's Day
New Year's Eve is celebrated with some revelry in urban areas. Hotels,
discos and major restaurants offer special meals, entertainment and dancing.
January - February Imlek -
The Lunar New Year is celebrated by Indonesians of Chinese ancestry. Visiting
of family and friends, special dishes and
gifts of ampau (money) mark the day's activities. Dragon dances
are held and limited outdoor decorations are seen on businesses and homes.
Most Chinese merchants close their shops for at least one day and maybe
up to a week. Greeting cards can be sent to Chinese fr
many are available in the stores. The date for Imlek is based on the Chinese
lunar calendar. Government offices are open for business.
Commemorative Days
Offices and businesses do NOT close on commemorative days.
21st Hari Kartini - Kartini Day
The birthday of Raden Ajeng Kartini, a prominent leader in the women's
emancipation movement in Indonesia. The event is marked by activities
within women's groups. In Indonesian schools children compete in national
dress competitions. The letters of Kartini to friends in Holland have
been published in Letters of a Javanese Princess.
May 2nd Hari Pendidikan Nasional - National Education
Celebrates the birth, growth and progress in the Indonesian education
system. Ceremonies are held at schools across the nation.
May 20th Hari Kebangkitan Nasional - National
Awakening Day
June 1st Hari Pancasila - Pancasila Day
Commemorates the Indonesian State Philosophy, the five basic principles
called Pancasila. Ceremonies are held at government offices and schools.
June 22nd Ulang Tahun Jakarta - Jakarta's Anniversary
Celebrates the founding of the city of Jakarta in 1527. The main event,
the Jakarta Fair, is held at the Fairgrounds in Jakarta. In addition,
performances highlighting Betawi (people indigenous to Jakarta) culture
are held throughout the city.
September 30th G30S-PKI (pronounced gay tiga puluh
Commemorates the attempted overthrow of the Indonesian government by the
Communist Party of Indonesia.
October 1st Hari Kesaktian Pancasila
October 5th Hari ABRI - Armed Forces Day
Commemorates the glories and achievements of the Indonesian Armed Forces,
highlighting and reaffirming their unique role in Indonesian society.
October 28th Hari Sumpah Pemuda - Youth Pledge
Commemorates the uniting of the Indonesian youth against the Dutch and
the pledge they developed on this day in 1928.
November 10th Hari Pahlawan - Hero's Day
Solemn ceremonies are held at national cemeteries around the archipelago.
Those official designated as heroes by the Indonesian government are honored
in a variety of forums and activities.
December 22nd Hari Ibu - Mother's Day
Events highlight the unique role of mothers specifically, and women in
Calendars Used in Indonesia
Muslim Calendar - Hijriah
A lunar calendar, 10-11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. The
calendar begins in the year that Mohammad took flight from Mecca to Medina.
Each lunar month has 29 days.
Gregorian or Roman Calendar
Used throughout
the world, this calendar marks its beginning with the birth of Christ.
The year is divided into 12 months, consisting of 30 or 31 days, except
for the month of February.
Balinese Calendar - Saka-Wuku
The Balinese calendar is a combination of Saka, the Hindu solar-lunar
year of 12 moons, and the Javanese-Balinese Wuku calendar of 210 days
which is divided into weeks. The combination of these two calendars and
the many names for the different weeks and days make the Balinese calendar
a complicated puzzle to solve. Experts in the field consult special charts
and tables to determine days for the various religious festivals and significant
The Balinese calendar is used to determine birthdays (oton), anniversaries
of temples (odalan), and the many festivals and days for things
that are so important in the everyday life of the Balinese. It is also
used by rural Balinese to determine good days for the planting of crops.
The calendar is determined by the phases of the moon, the most important
days being each full moon (purnama) and new moon (tilem).
Mini Glossary:
Halal-bihalal
Gatherings held for the mutual begging of pardon
Hari libur
Traditional rice dish, cooked in coconut fronds
Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin
Traditional asking for forgiveness of slights and sins
Mass exodus of Muslims from urban areas at Lebaran
Tanggal merah
Red date on calendars, a national holiday12 Tips for the Convert Muslim | Virtual Mosque
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