Portentous date passes uneventfully

Portentous date passes uneventfully

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The dreaded date of 9-9-1999 passed on
Thursday without much calamity thanks to, according to some,
traditional exorcism rituals performed in several places across
the country.

A gathering of the traditional community leaders here held a
special ritual, commonly known as Ruwatan Bangsa, on Wednesday
night to ward off any evil that may befall the nation on that
notorious date.

GBPH Yudhaningrat, younger brother of Yogyakarta's Sultan Sri
Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, explained that in Javanese tradition the
number nine is known as the "highest" number.

A combination of five nines, he said, needs to be solemnized.

Ruwat rituals are usually held by performing an all-night
shadow puppet show (wayang) which is thought to be able to
exorcise evil.

"High culture shows that we are highly civilized,"
Yudhaningrat exclaimed.

Meanwhile in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Antara reported that
the usually crowded local markets in Ampenan, Cakranegara and
Bertais were strangely quiet on Thursday morning.

The streets and markets are normally bustling from 6 a.m.

A sense of paranoia hung over city with rumors that Armageddon
would occur on Thursday at the ninth second of the ninth minute
of the ninth hour.

To the relief of many, nothing happened.

Many vendors admitted that they believed something might
happen, and said that it was more than mere hysteria.

A mother seen shopping later in the day admitted that she had
stocked up on food supplies for two days.

"Just in case," remarked Mrs. Mawardi shyly. (swa)