Borobudur tops list of places to spend New Year

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Millennium Night Borobudur 2000 is probably only one of numerous year-end celebrations offered throughout the world. Yet it is this event that the future of Yogyakarta's tourism industry could depend on. The event is expected to help local tourism industrialists restore the province's image as a comfortable and safe tourist destination.

"We do hope the planned event will improve the country's good image in the international world, especially after a series of disadvantageous issues hit the country and directly affected tourism," the chairman of the Borobudur 2000 organizing committee, Bagus Ardhi Baliantoro, told The Jakarta Post.

Bagus was referring to the ongoing economic crisis, forest fires, social unrest and political uncertainties which hit the country and badly affected tourism. Tourism was affected so badly that certain foreign countries imposed a travel ban on Indonesia or warned their citizens not to travel to the country.

Last month the city recorded the arrival of 10,000 tourists, or half the number of tourist arrivals in August, the peak season of the year. Before the crisis, the number of tourist arrivals was between 20,000 and 40,000 a month.

"To restore the condition, therefore, we have to be able to make a really big and historic event. That is why we are making use of the moment of the millennium change," Bagus added.

Borobudur, the greatest Buddhist monument in the world, and the great Hindu temple of Prambanan, were then chosen as the monumental sites for the celebration. The temples' historic and religious values, along with their amazing charm and commercial worth, are considered best suited for the purpose, especially since the theme set for the celebration is titled "A ceremony for world harmony and peace, self-cleansing in a mystical tradition of Ruwatan (traditional Javanese ceremony)".

In Javanese culture, a ruwatan is usually held as a service to protect someone from bad luck. A shadow puppet show is usually held during the ceremony.

"This theme is quite in line with the global issue of concern for environmental conservation in the future," Bagus said.

The tour package is offered for four days and three nights, from Dec.30, 1999 through Jan. 2, 2000, at US$247 per person. Each package includes transfers to and from the hotel to airport/railway/bus station, transportation, a guide, parking, porter, entrance fees, refreshment/drink, gala diner and all meals during the Borobudur Millennium Eve, the meals indicated on the itinerary, champagne, coffee break, all performances and a souvenir. Airfare, personal expenses and accommodation are all excluded.

Nonpackage tickets for millennium eve festivities only are also available. Each ticket, effective for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 celebrations, costs $198. The package and nonpackage tickets can be obtained at any travel agency throughout the country.

The Dec. 31 celebration will include a torch-lit procession, a gala banquet of Indonesian and international favorites, a chance to participate in traditional and ethnic modern cultural performances, featuring popular musicians and dancers from Yogyakarta, and an all-night shadow puppet performance.

It is during the gala dinner reception that the 3rd millennium eve celebration of Ruwat Bumi (Earth cleansing ceremony) will be held. Local prominent Javanese cultural observer Fred Wibowo is scheduled to lead the procession. All the guests are given the chance to participate in the procession.

A set of ruwatan (presents) is prepared for them. It includes a batik cloth having the motif of Bangun Tolak (a symbol believed to have the power of protecting whoever wears it from bad luck), and a sitting mat having the same batik motif as the cloth. It is believed that people who undergo ruwatan rituals will be prevented from experiencing bad luck in their lives.

"The idea is to make all the guests not only enjoy the procession but participate in it as well. We want to give them one particular distinct mystical experience," Bagus explained.

Accordingly, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Javanese spiritual religious services will also be conducted to guide in the new millennium.

At midnight, when the procession at Borobudur temple is completed, the distinguished guests will be taken to the Hindu temple of Prambanan, some 50 km southeast of Borobudur temple. A bedug (traditional drum) festival will be performed along the trip.

As the celebration is held during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan, a saur (early breakfast) for those who fast will be served at Prambanan temple at 3 a.m. A few hours later, the Bandung Bondowoso ballet will be performed by a group of students from the nearby school of arts, along with kentongan (Javanese traditional drum) and gejok lesung (traditional music) performances. The ballet tells the story of how the ancient Prambanan temple was built through a mysticism.

Supporting events, including an exhibition of prominent Indonesian painters and ethnic furniture, food festivals, andong (horse cart) festival and a traditional lamp festival, will also be held from Dec. 28, 1999 through Jan. 3, 2000.

The organizing committee is presently preparing to accommodate between 300 and 500 guests for the celebration. Promotion has been done throughout the world through leaflets and brochures. A number of foreign tourists have made reservations but have not yet made a confirmation. (swa)