200 Participants Join Melukat Tradition at TMII: Its Meaning and Process

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - As many as 200 participants joined the Melukat ritual at the Indonesia Museum, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), East Jakarta, on Sunday afternoon (26/4/2026).

To commemorate TMII’s 51st anniversary, hundreds of participants from various ethnic and religious backgrounds enthusiastically took part in the Balinese self-purification tradition at TMII.

“This is an initial process, for living beings, not just Hindus, but those who wish to draw closer to the Almighty God through an approach to nature and the universe,” said Hindu priest Ida Pandita Nabe Dharma Putra Paseban to the media.

Melukat derives from the word sulukat. “Su” means good and “lukat” means purification, as quoted by Kompas.com on Monday (27/4/2026).

“Nature is a teacher from which we must learn through this purification process by cleansing ourselves. Cleanse our minds, our words, our actions. That is what we purify. If we purify ourselves, nature will be close to us,” explained Ida regarding the meaning of Melukat.

“Through this Nusantara purification, it is needed by everyone. The goal is to live in harmony, peace, and happiness,” added Ida.

There is no entry fee for participating in this ritual. Participants are required to wear all-white attire. The organising committee at the site provides a set of white cloth for Rp 75,000.

The Melukat procession parade is led by Hindu religious figures carrying offerings, accompanied by traditional Balinese music.

“Actually, the prayer is not a Hindu prayer. Even the priest there said to pray according to one’s own beliefs. As for me, a Muslim, it means praying to Allah,” said Suci (24), one of the Melukat participants at TMII, when met by Kompas.com at the location.

The participants then continued the procession with sprinkling at the fountain area. This session was joined by groups of 10 people in turns.