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.