The Hindu community in Bengkulu City has prayed for Indonesia to be\nspared from various disasters ahead of the Nyepi holiday for the Saka\nNew Year 1948 tomorrow.<\/p>\n
This was stated after hundreds of Hindus in Bengkulu City carried out\na series of ceremonies, one of which was the tawur kesanga at Pura\nJagatnatha Santhi Muara Dipa.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter carrying out the ceremony, we prayed for health and prosperity\nto be granted, and we asked for the Indonesian nation to be kept away\nfrom various disasters,\u201d said the Chairman of the Parisada Hindu Dharma\nof Bengkulu Province, I Wayan Dharmayana, in Bengkulu City on\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
He mentioned that the tawur kesanga ceremony is part of the Bhuta\nYadnya ritual carried out one day before Nyepi Day.<\/p>\n
The ritual is intended to neutralise and purify negative energies,\nboth in the universe and within humans.<\/p>\n
After the tawur kesanga, the Hindu community in Bengkulu City also\ncarried out the pengerupukan ceremony, marked by the Ogoh-ogoh Parade\naccompanied by torches and gamelan, symbolising efforts to neutralise\nnegative forces.<\/p>\n
Next, they will carry out catur brata penyepian, the four main\nabstinences during the Nyepi holiday celebration, which lasts for 24\nhours, marked by fasting starting on 19 March at 06.00 WIB until 20\nMarch at 06.00 WIB.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the Nyepi series is completed, Hindus will carry out\nSimakrama, the tradition of visiting and maintaining relations among\nfellow congregants,\u201d said Wayan.<\/p>\n
Previously, the Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of\nReligious Affairs of Bengkulu Province, Saefudin, urged all communities\nin the region to be tolerant, respectful, and honour interfaith\nrelations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge all communities in Bengkulu Province to respect each other\nif the implementation of Idul Fitri and Nyepi celebrations overlap or\ncoincide,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He noted that the Nyepi celebration and Idul Fitri 1447 Hijriah\noverlap, and his office will not impose restrictions on activities or\nnight takbiran events, etc.<\/p>\n
This is based on discussions conducted by the Bengkulu Provincial\nMinistry of Religious Affairs Regional Office, the Indonesian Ulema\nCouncil, the Chairman of the Inter-Religious Harmony Forum (FKUB), Hindu\ncommunity leaders regarding the celebration of two major religious\nholidays in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also invited village heads in Ramah Agung Village and Air Petai\nVillage in North Bengkulu Regency, which are the bases of the Hindu\ncommunity in Bengkulu Province, as well as the Hindu Religious Council\nto discuss how the simultaneous Idul Fitri and Nyepi celebrations will\nproceed. The principle is mutual tolerance and respect,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Saefudin emphasised that the implementation of Idul Fitri Day is\nstill awaiting the results of the Isbat Session to be held by the\nMinistry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia on 19 March\n2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd interfaith leaders have agreed on this, and Bengkulu Province\nhas zero conflict cases, with mutual respect and harmonisation. I would\nalso like to convey that the statement from the Ministry of Religious\nAffairs of the Republic of Indonesia some time ago limiting takbiran\nactivities from 18.00 to 21.00 WITA applies specifically to Bali\nProvince, and outside Bali, it is not implemented or proceeds normally\nas usual,\u201d said Saefudin.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ahead-of-nyepi-hindus-in-bengkulu-pray-for-indonesia-to-be-spared-from-disasters-1773845481", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }