Cap Go Meh Festival in Bogor City to be Held after Tarawih 1-3 March
The Cap Go Meh Bogor Street Festival 2026 (CGM-BSF) will proceed in Bogor City, with adjustments made to accommodate the festival’s coincidence with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The festival will be held over three days from 1-3 March, commencing in the evening after tarawih prayers in the Suryakencana (Surken) area of Bogor City.
The festival’s theme is “Harmony in Diversity,” reflecting the significance of two momentous occasions converging this year: the celebration of Cap Go Meh alongside the holy month of Ramadan. According to Arifin Himawan, Chairman of the CGM-BSF 2026 Organising Committee, this convergence represents a powerful opportunity for the city to demonstrate that cultural traditions and spiritual values can flourish together in an orderly and mutually respectful public space. “The meeting of Cap Go Meh and Ramadan is not a problem for Bogor, but rather a strong message that this city can celebrate culture without abandoning spiritual values. This is the true face of Bogor: its traditions are alive, its people are harmonious, and its public spaces belong to all,” Himawan stated.
Organisers have carefully prepared the festival with consideration for multiple elements, designing all activities with an approach that respects the atmosphere of Ramadan, from the event concept and activity scheduling to strengthening social elements within the festival.
On the first day, 1 March, a communal iftar will be held for 400 orphans at Dhanagun Vihara’s courtyard. These children represent delegates from six sub-districts within Bogor City, symbolising social concern and the spirit of sharing during Ramadan. This activity has been a regular fixture for the past eleven years during each Ramadan month, but this year it will simultaneously serve as the official opening of the CGM-BSF 2026 Night Market.
For this Cap Go Meh celebration, organisers have specifically created a night market. Over three days, from 1-3 March, the Pecinan Village or Surken area will be enlivened by the “Pasar Malam Jadoel” (Old Night Market). The market will feature approximately 120 food vendors, legendary coffee establishments, and local Bogor creative products. The night market is designed as a space for interaction between residents, tourists, and business operators, blending the atmospheric essence of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, the warmth of Ramadan togetherness, and the distinctive culinary richness of Bogor. Activities will take place daily from 4.00 pm to 11.00 pm.
The cultural parade, a flagship event that has become part of Bogor’s and Indonesia’s event calendar, will be held on 3 March. The parade will run from 9.00 pm to 11.00 pm, commencing after Muslims have completed tarawih prayers. Himawan noted that this year’s parade will differ somewhat in timing and distance, which have been shortened. Nevertheless, organisers are committed to ensuring the parade retains the vibrancy of Cap Go Meh traditions. However, it will be presented with an approach aligned with Ramadan’s atmosphere, featuring marawis performances, religious music, and cultural expressions infused with a sense of togetherness in a refined and orderly manner.
Organisers emphasised that this concept was selected to ensure the festival remains a space for cultural celebration whilst reflecting respect for the religious significance of the occasion to the community. “We want the public to see that harmony is not merely an event slogan, but a shared attitude among Bogor residents in maintaining brotherhood. The diversity in this city should not be preserved through distance, but celebrated with maturity and mutual respect,” Himawan concluded.