Islamic New Year Celebrated Merrily in Cirebon City

The night of the Islamic New Year 1448 Hijriah was celebrated merrily in Cirebon City. Various activities were held to welcome the Islamic New Year, which coincides with Cirebon’s 599th anniversary.

Based on information gathered, the New Year’s Eve celebration was enlivened by a fire football game at the Jagasatru Islamic Boarding School in Cirebon City on Monday (15/6) evening, played by the students. The cheers of the spectators added to the excitement of the spectacle, which is routinely held on New Year’s Eve. The fire football match, held on the street in front of the boarding school, attracted the attention of passing motorists, who stopped to enjoy the game. In addition to the fire football, the students also performed martial arts displays and fire stick games.

Habib Hasanain, the head of the Jagasatru Islamic Boarding School in Cirebon, stated that the activities were organised by the students to joyfully welcome the new year. “Before this, we held a communal prayer at the boarding school, followed by a torchlight parade around several roads in Cirebon City,” said Hasanain.

In addition to the students, a torchlight parade to welcome the Islamic New Year was also held by residents of RW 05 Cangkol Tengah, Lemahwungkuk Subdistrict, Cirebon City. The parade, which involved around 800 residents, featured torches made from bamboo. They also showcased a marching band, a barongsai performance, and an angklung ensemble. “We will travel around spreading joy to welcome the new year,” said Agus Septian, Head of RW 05 Cangkol Tengah.

Agus explained that this torchlight parade is a routine annual event. “In fact, we hold it twice a year, to welcome the holy month of Ramadan and the Islamic New Year,” he said. Apart from being a gathering event for the residents, the activity also aims to foster unity, strengthen bonds of friendship, and promote community cohesiveness during the Islamic New Year moment.

Cirebon’s anniversary is commemorated every 1 Muharam, or the Islamic New Year. This year, the city turned 599. The anniversary proceedings began with a congregational Asr prayer at the Sang Cipta Rasa Grand Mosque, followed by a pilgrimage to the Tomb of Sunan Gunung Jati on Monday (15/6). On Tuesday (16/6), the commemoration continued with a ceremony for Cirebon’s 599th Anniversary at Alun-Alun Kejaksan, followed by a Plenary Session of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in the context of the 599th Anniversary of Cirebon in 2026, held at the Griya Sawala DPRD Building.

“We interpret the 599th Anniversary of Cirebon with the idea of ‘Manunggal Winangun Caruban’. This theme is not merely a slogan; it is a working instrument,” said Cirebon Mayor Effendi Edo on Tuesday (16/6).

Literally, ‘Manunggal’ demands unity, while ‘Winangun’ means to build. “‘Caruban’ is our original identity, a fusion of various cultural elements—Javanese, Sundanese, Arab, Chinese, and coastal—which has been the DNA of this city for hundreds of years,” Edo explained.

From the perspective of today’s governance, ‘Manunggal Winangun Caruban’ signifies absolute collaboration. The government must open itself to various forms of active participation from all parties. Elements of the bureaucracy, the DPRD, law enforcement officials, the private sector, and the community down to the neighbourhood level must merge into one driving force. “There must be no sectoral ego when we talk about the progress of Cirebon City,” said Edo.

Furthermore, Edo noted that reaching the age of 599 serves as a stark reminder. Next year, the city will be exactly six centuries old. “Our challenges are not shrinking, but mutating. The dynamics of spatial planning, the need for employment, the availability of equitable public facilities, and environmental quality demand faster and more tactical policy responses,” Edo stated.