New Year's in 2000 to be a quiet affair?
New Year's in 2000 to be a quiet affair?
JAKARTA (JP): Most major cities around the world are already
in the throes of preparing a huge bash for New Year's Eve 1999 --
to welcome the new millennium.
But Jakarta is in a quandary and still pondering what to do.
The city is home to 10 million people, about 90 percent of
whom are Moslems, but authorities have not determined whether to
allow Jakartans to hold New Year's parties on Dec. 31, 1999
because it falls in the third week of the annual Ramadhan fasting
month.
When asked whether the municipality would ban people and
entertainment businesses from holding New Year's Eve parties to
welcome the third millennium -- as has been the case this year --
Governor Sutiyoso could not give a direct answer.
But he promised to try and satisfy everyone because, as he
has said, Jakarta is an international city.
"I understand that the change from 1999 to 2000 will fall
during Ramadhan. I also understand the necessity to celebrate New
Year's Eve.
"We will discuss it next year," Sutiyoso said.
In Gubernatorial Decree No. 437/1997, dated Nov. 26, Sutiyoso
banned New Year's Eve parties in hotels and entertainment spots
because they may disturb fasting Moslems. Ramadhan is expected to
start Wednesday.
Such parties had to be held before yesterday.
The management of Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta, for
instance, held its fireworks fiesta on Friday and Saturday to
commemorate New Year's Eve.
Many Jakartans believe it will be hard for the city
administration to decide what to do for the 1999 New Year's Eve
celebrations.
"But I hope the municipality will come up with a wise decision
that is, for example, to allow Jakartans to hold parties, but
nothing too sensational which might offend the feelings of those
who are observing Ramadhan," a native Jakartan, who is a Moslem,
said.
"Because we all know that there are certain groups of people
that want to celebrate the start of the new millennium," he said.
"It's true that it's a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for everyone
on earth."
Sutiyoso halfheartedly shared this opinion.
"Jakarta is already an open society. Its people come from
different nations, religions and economic, social and ethnic
backgrounds. Therefore, being part of the millennium celebrations
is like being together with the whole world," the governor said.
Early fiesta
In line with Sutiyoso's instruction, a number of entertainment
venues in the city held this year's New Year's Eve parties on
Saturday evening.
Thousands of Jakartans turned up to celebrate, listen to live
music and watch spectacular fireworks displays.
The parties took place at, among others, Taman Mini Indonesia
Indah (TMII) in East Jakarta, Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran,
Central Jakarta and Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta.
The ceremony at TMII was held in front of the huge Indonesia-
in-miniature park.
It was livened up with performances by some noted dangdut
singers and bands, with the event broadcast live by the privately
owned Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia television station.
For a cover charge of Rp 5,000, revelers enjoyed performances
by their favorite singers, including Rhoma Irama, Elvie Sukaesih,
Jaja Miharja and Ike Nurjanah.
The music show ended with the lighting of thousands of
firecrackers and followed by a late-night wayang kulit (shadow
puppet) show by famous puppeteer Ki Dalang Anom Suroto.
A large crowd gathered at Jakarta Fairground to watch
fireworks, dance to nostalgic hits performed by Gang Pegangsaan
and Cockpit Band and listen to singers including Chrisye and
Berlian Hutauruk.
Ancol Dreamland staged a spectacular fireworks display at its
former drive-in theater on Saturday evening to commemorate New
Year's Eve and Christmas.
Before the fireworks -- which started at 9 p.m. -- world-
renowned trumpeter Kenny G. and several local artists performed
along with dangdut singer Evi Tamala and bands such as Stinky,
BaseJam, Bias and the children's group Trio Kwek-Kwek.
(edt/bsr/04)