Celebrating the new millennium in Yogya

By Asip A. Hasani

YOGYAKARTA (JP): New Year's Eve is always a special time for many people, but the coming celebration is particularly remarkable because of it ushering in the new millennium.

Hotels, restaurants, amusement centers and travel agencies have already sized up the huge potential of the event to make money. They have planned programs to try to attract visitors and many individuals are also planning their schedules for the best way to welcome the new millennium.

Borobudur 2000 Millennium Night is among the highest profile events planned in this ancient city.

Jointly organized by local hotels, restaurants and tourist agencies, the program is billed as "unique" and features Javanese cultural attractions between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. In the Borobudur temple, some 30 km north of here, there will be a Javanese purification ceremony called ruwatan.

The ceremony implores God to protect the world from wars, disease and natural disasters. The rite consists of dances and a nightlong shadow puppet show. It will begin at dusk after people witness the last sunset of the second millennium from the top of the world's greatest Buddhist temple before having a gala dinner.

The ritual will start at about 10 p.m., or two hours ahead of the dawning of the new millennium. At midnight, a Javanese drum festival would be held at the temple complex.

Other rituals include watering of trees and bathing cattle as a symbol of the appeal for prosperity. People will set free their birds and chicken, symbolizing the release of all sins and bad luck. Prominent contemporary choreographer Bagong Kussudiardja is scheduled to stage a special dance.

The Labuhan ceremony, in which people give offerings to bature, at Parangtritis beach, some 25 kilometers south of here, will cap the Borobudur 2000 Millennium Night.

Yogyakarta's Center of Art and Culture (Purawisata) plans to organize a series of events, including a workshop on the Javanese culture, in the Java 2000 Millennium Party, on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

A striking fact is that most events on the agenda are infused with Javanese mysticism.

"We want our guests to experience ancient Javanese culture. That's why we call this 'A Journey to the Ancient Javanese Culture'," project officer of the Java 2000 Millennium Party Dodi Sunardi told The Jakarta Post.

The attractions include Nini Towong (magic doll) games and Jathilan (a traditional dance for warriors). Both require the presence of spirits to take place, according to Dodi.

Purawisata will also hold exhibitions of batik painting, silver handicrafts, puppetry and kris.

Located about a kilometer east of the palace, the five hectares allocated for the Java 2000 Millennium Party will be decorated in a completely Javanese style.

The smell of burning kemenyan (incense derived from gum benzoin), traditional kerosene bamboo torches as the only lighting and sound of gamelan music will dominate the atmosphere. There, too, the guests are served Javanese cuisines.

"All the guests will dress up in a complete traditional Javanese costume during the program, with the Kesatrian outfit for men and Keputren for women" said Dodi.

The traditional Reog dance from Ponorogo, East Java, will start the Java 2000 Millennium Party as a welcoming dance for the guests and participants. Balinese dancers will perform the Rangda dance after dinner.

On the second day, the Purawisata Dance Group will perform a special play Ramayana.

Ramayana is the famous Hindu epic created hundred years ago. It tells of the war between good and evil, represented by the conflict between Rama and Rahwana. It is also the love story of Rama and Sinta.

On Dec. 31, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, who is also the governor of Yogyakarta, is expected to join the dinner. Visits to the great Hindu Prambanan Temple and the Sultan's palace will cap the celebration.

Major hotels have also planned their own programs.

The five-star hotel Sheraton Mustika, for example, is offering a series of programs to welcome the new millennium. On the millennium's eve, its cavernous ballroom will be turned into a futuristic "temple" dominated by the color silver.

"Our staff will dress up like the characters in the TV series Star Trek," Sheraton food and beverage manager Aryantho told the Post.

Aryantho, who is also the party arranger, said that he picked the main idea of the party -- "Enter the Golden Dragon" -- from the traditional Chinese calendar, which sets 2000 as the Year of the Dragon.

The Barongsai (dragon) dance will be performed along with modern dances. A group of models from Bandung will exhibit futuristic fashions.

"At midnight, we'll let the guests stand up and pray, make a wish for a better life," said Aryantho, adding that the programs were designed not only for foreign tourists but domestic ones as well.

On the first day of January 2000, the park in the backyard of the hotel compound will be turned into a miniature of the legendary Jl. Malioboro, along with its street vendors selling various souvenirs.

A similar futuristic party will be held at another five-star hotel, Hyatt Regency. The city's popular band, Geronimo Band, will lead the party in the hotel's ballroom. There will also be dances.

Novotel Yogyakarta will present all-night musical entertainment, with the local young talented musicians Top Forty Band as the main attraction.

Ibis Malioboro Hotel at Jl. Malioboro offers a slightly different kind of entertainment -- a magic show.

Two local prominent fashion designers will exhibit their latest creations in "The Millennium Fashion Trend" at Jogja Village Inn.

The efforts of the tourism entrepreneurs has pleased the head of the local tourist and culture office, Sugeng.

"What impresses me is that they are organizing various programs on their own initiative."

He is upbeat the programs will attract visitors to Yogyakarta.

"At least, 5,000 of the 10,000 hotel rooms will be occupied during the millennium celebration" he said, adding that 40 percent of the rooms were in star-rated hotels.

Sugeng said the number of tourists visiting the area significantly increased since last October, filling 35 percent to 40 percent of hotel capacity.