Deputy Creative Economy Minister: Lunar New Year Festival Showcases Nation's Harmonious Diversity
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Creative Economy Minister Irene Umar stated that the Lunar New Year Festival 2577 — Harmoni Imlek Nusantara — aims to showcase the harmony of Indonesia’s diversity.
“We want to present the harmony that exists beneath the Ramadan moon. So friends can come here to the Lunar New Year Festival and witness the beauty of Indonesia, the diversity of Indonesia that is represented here,” said Irene when met in Jakarta on Sunday.
Irene, who also serves as General Chairwoman of the National Lunar New Year Committee, said the festival offers the public an opportunity to learn about the cultural acculturation between Chinese and Indonesian heritage. This can be experienced through various engaging interactive activities open to all visitors.
Through historical collections, visual art, interactive installations and multimedia narratives, the open museum illustrates how the Lunar New Year has evolved to become part of Indonesia’s social and cultural life, serving as a meeting ground across communities and enriching the nation’s diverse cultural heritage in a manner that is open to all.
Visitors can also enjoy a range of performances from lion and dragon dances to traditional Chinese costumes. Additionally, various food and beverages are available at SME stalls located beside the main stage.
The market is designed as a space for cultural and economic interaction open to all, providing opportunities for local business operators to display and sell their products to the wider public, whilst adding to the festive atmosphere through a variety of local flavours and product innovations.
Irene also noted that the diversity on display extends to wellness stalls, where visitors can access relaxation services or experience traditional Indonesian massage.
On the occasion, Irene conveyed that the government is targeting between 5,000 and 10,000 visitors. However, she predicted that attendance would exceed expectations given Lapangan Banteng’s proximity to Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral Church.
“I am quite confident it will surpass the target because the overflow from tarawih prayers alone will certainly bring more people here. That is why we have made the venue quite large and it is an open field — why not enclosed? So that inclusivity is not merely something we talk about,” she added.
The Lunar New Year celebration, which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, is hoped to serve as a space for interfaith reflection amongst religious communities and the wider public.
The festival programme includes a Lantern Festival, Culinary Market, Arts and Creative Fair, Open Museum on Chinese Cultural Acculturation, free health checks, and various film ornaments from “Jumbo” to “Pelangi di Mars”.
The celebration’s peak is set for 28 February 2026, featuring mass lion and dragon dance performances, traditional music and dance shows, appearances by national artists, as well as symbols of national harmony and unity.