Muharram 1448 H Festival Enlivens Islamic New Year in Jakarta, Deputy Governor Says It's Not a Party

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government held the Festival Nyebrang at Taman Bendera Pusaka, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Monday (15/6/2026) to commemorate the Islamic New Year 1448 Hijriah. Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Rano Karno stated that the event was a form of collective thanksgiving involving all elements of society, which is why it was held in an open space. “If you call it a party, this is not a party, but a thanksgiving. We are preparing to migrate because next year Jakarta will turn 500 years old. This is our shared responsibility,” he said on Monday evening.

Taman Bendera Pusaka was chosen as the festival location as part of efforts to activate city parks as positive public interaction spaces, given that public enthusiasm for visiting the park has increased significantly since it opened three months ago. “The Governor also said, don’t keep holding events inside buildings. We must utilise open spaces. This is part of the effort to activate city parks,” Rano added.

The 1 Muharram 1448 H festival was also enlivened with an electric torch parade. The use of electric torches was chosen as an adaptation to weather conditions while considering safety aspects without diminishing the philosophical value of the tradition. “Almost all over Indonesia, Muharram commemorations are synonymous with torch parades. In Jakarta, we present it symbolically using electric torches. This remains a marker of a very distinctive tradition in Indonesia,” he said.