New Year colors

New Year colors

Amid the prolonged crisis and continuing terror threats,
Indonesians welcome the New Year with lively and peaceful
celebrations. Like people in other parts of the country, Greater
Jakarta residents celebrated New Year's Eve with colorful
activities, including a street party, fireworks and prayers. We
all hope for a better, more secure Indonesia in 2003.

Photo A: NewYear

JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

Rainbow colored fireworks light up the sky at the Serpong housing
complex, Tangerang, at midnight on Dec. 31, 2002 (photo above).
Residents in the complex enjoyed the New Year's Eve celebration
at nearby manmade Alam Sutra lake.

Photo B/C: NewYear

JP/IGGP Bayu Ismoyo

A choir perform a musical composition on a stage erected at the
Hotel Indonesia traffic circle (photo left) as thousands of
revelers (photo above) listen attentively to speakers during the
street party. Jakarta's main thoroughfares were closed on Tuesday
night to give the people space for the street party to welcome
the new year.

Photo D/E/F: NewYear

JP/R. Berto Wedhatama, JP/IGGP Bayu Ismoyo

People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais (photo left)
addresses a Tabligh Akbar (mass prayer) at a New Year's Eve
celebration in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta. Meanwhile, drag
racers prepare their motorbikes minutes before starting a race at
the east parking lot of Senayan sports stadium (photo right
above), while a barongsai (Chinese dragon dance) troupe (photo
right, below) performs before thousands of people on Jl. MH
Thamrin leading to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.