Youths prefer worship to parties on New Year<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Youth organizations at several houses of worship
\nhere are set to organize religious activities to mark the New
\nYear, which falls on Saturday, amid growing tendencies among city
\ndwellers to exuberantly celebrate the annual event which will
\nalso be the changing of the millennium.<\/p>\n
Interviewed separately, activists of the youth organizations
\nsaid it would be meaningful to spend the night at a place of
\nworship rather than join parties at entertainment spots.<\/p>\n
\"The activities will strengthen our ties with God. Moreover,
\nthe New Year falls during the holy Ramadhan fasting month,\" said
\nSunarti, an activist of Islamic Youths at Sunda Kelapa Mosque
\n(Riska), based at the Sunda Kelapa Mosque in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
She said the organization would organize \"I'tikaf Millennium\",
\nin which the participants would follow a series of activities
\nfrom New Year's Eve to dawn on Jan. 1.<\/p>\n
\"I'tikaf comprises a session discussing a topic based on the
\nHoly Koran, another session listening to lectures from preachers
\nand a mass sholat (Islamic prayer),\" said Sunarti.<\/p>\n
Riska has 5,000 active members throughout the city, from
\njunior high school students to white collar workers.<\/p>\n
Another youth organization, the Youth Islamic Study Club
\n(YISC), based at the Al Azhar Mosque in South Jakarta, will
\norganize similar activities.<\/p>\n
\"We will hold an interactive dialog with preachers, with the
\ntheme of Millennium Reflection,\" said Ahmad Ma'sum, an activist
\nof YISC.<\/p>\n
The Catholic Youth of Cathedral Church in Central Jakarta is
\nscheduled to provide worship activities entitled \"Millennium
\nKasih\" on New Year's Eve.<\/p>\n
\"We will have a mass prayer at 8 p.m. It will be followed by a
\nmusic play until 11.30 p.m,\" said Theresia Yanti, an activist of
\nthe organization.<\/p>\n
She said that at 12 p.m. the participants would release
\nballoons which would be attached to papers decorated with their
\npersonal wishes in welcoming the New Year.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Temple Hian Tian Siang Tee, which is located behind
\nthe Palmerah market in Central Jakarta, will not hold special
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
\"People may come to the temple to conduct regular prayers,\"
\nsaid Kim Liong, a temple executive.<\/p>\n
Separately, the City Public Order Agency will set strict
\nmeasures to oversee New Year's Eve parties organized by
\nentertainment spots in the city.<\/p>\n
\"We will deploy 120 officials to entertainment spots
\nthroughout city's five mayoralties to oversee their activities,\"
\nsaid Tongam Tambunan, head of the agency's entertainment section.<\/p>\n
Tongam said any entertainment spots violating the governor's
\ninstruction not to operate after the stipulated time of 3.00 a.m
\non Jan. 1, would be closed down for one to two weeks. (05\/asa)<\/p>",
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