Gibran Joins in Carrying the Cross at Easter Celebration in NTT
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka attended the opening of the 2026 Youth Easter Festival of the Evangelical Christian Church in Timor (GMIT) in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Monday, 6 April 2026. There was a unique moment during the celebration, when Gibran joined in carrying the cross in a symbolic procession at Tirosa Roundabout, Kupang.
In his speech, Vice President Gibran conveyed greetings from President Prabowo Subianto while extending Easter wishes to the Christian community. He stated that the festival is not merely a religious ceremony, but also an opportunity to strengthen values of peace and unity. “No country can achieve development without unity,” he said.
Gibran also encouraged the development of the GMIT Easter Festival as a spiritual tourism agenda that directly impacts the community’s economy through the involvement of SMEs and strengthening of the creative economy sector.
Meanwhile, the Governor of NTT, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, in his speech, emphasised that the spirit of Easter should serve as a force to bring about peaceful prosperity while promoting sustainable development.
“This year’s Easter spirit should bring peaceful prosperity within families, communities, and the nation, and inspire us to continue building an advanced, healthy, intelligent, prosperous, and sustainable NTT,” he said.
He also affirmed that NTT is known as the “Most Beautiful Island of Tolerance”, where diversity of ethnicities, religions, and cultures coexist harmoniously. In fact, at the same location, a takbiran parade had previously been held, providing strong evidence of interfaith harmony.
The Vice President’s presence was welcomed in traditional style, followed by a performance of Nusa Sepe dance by Jemmy Dance Academy, depicting the unity of the multi-ethnic community in Kupang City. The atmosphere became even more solemn when the Grand Youth Choir of GMIT performed the spiritual song “The Faithful God”.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the GMIT Synod, Samuel Pandie, reminded that Easter should be a tangible testimony of faith in social life. He also highlighted various challenges in NTT, such as stunting, violence, protection of migrant workers, HIV/AIDS, and issues in the 3T regions.
The series of events concluded with the handing over of the Peace Torch from the Vice President to the GMIT Youth, as well as the procession of raising the cross as the official sign of the festival’s opening.