Hindu Communities from Greater Jakarta Gather at Cilincing Coastal Temple for Melasti Purification Ceremony

JAKARTA — Hindu worshippers from the Greater Jakarta region participated in the Melasti ceremony ahead of the Nyepi 2026 holy day celebrations at Pura Segara Cilincing, North Jakarta, on Sunday, 15 March 2026.

According to observations around 09:25 WIB, the temple precinct began filling with worshippers arriving to participate in the ritual purification sequence. Several tourist coaches arrived in succession, carrying groups of devotees from various areas surrounding Jakarta.

The men wore udeng headdresses, white shirts, and cloths tied around their waists. The women wore white kebaya with shawls draped around their waists. The aroma of incense filled the temple grounds, enhancing the solemnity of the occasion as worshippers gathered to perform the Melasti ritual sequence.

Made Sudarta, chairman of Suka Duka Hindu Dharma for Greater Jakarta, stated that worshippers participating in the Melasti ceremony at Pura Segara came not only from Jakarta. “There are 15 places of worship in Jakarta, and there are also people from West Java, from Gunung Salak Bogor, from Bogor, and also from Depok. So from various regions,” he said when met by observers at the location on Sunday.

He estimated that the number of worshippers participating in the Melasti ceremony at Pura Segara reached thousands.

“This is the central location for Melasti in Greater Jakarta, in Jakarta. And this is carried out every year as part of the sacred Nyepi Day observance for Greater Jakarta,” he explained.

During the ceremony sequence, representatives from each temple would proceed to the sea to collect tirta, or sacred water. This water would then be used as part of the purification process in the Nyepi celebration.

“Yes, there are representatives from the worshippers who collect sacred water from the sea, in order to make it tirta for the ceremony. It will later be completed by the pandita,” Made explained.