Ubud to pray for peace, unity after bombing

Ubud to pray for peace, unity after bombing

I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

Art and charity events held in sympathy of the Oct. 12 terrorist
attack on Bali continue to console the grieving world.

Following a gala concert at Jimbaran resort, residents of Ubud
-- one of Bali's art centers -- will hold a two-day event titled
A Tribute to Peace and Unity, on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10.

"Through the tribute, we, the residents of Ubud, would like to
send our condolences to all those who lost their loved ones in
the tragedy," said Rio Helmi, a member of the organizing
committee.

"We are well aware the tragedy has brought tension among the
people of various ethnic groups and religions. The tribute is
meant to deliver a message to all people of all ethnic groups and
religions that we are all members of one big family; the family
of humankind," he said.

Ubud, a small district some 30 kilometers east of Denpasar, is
well-known as a home to not only common people and influential
royalty, but also noted painters, sculptors and intellectuals of
various backgrounds and nationalities, whose presences have
shaped Ubud's image as a cultural haven.

The tribute will consist of four main events: a peace and
unity art procession; a mass prayer and formal acknowledgement of
the volunteers; art performances; and night markets.

The event will start with the peace and unity art procession
on Saturday at about 4 p.m. Students, youth organizations,
Indonesians and expatriates from around Ubud will participate in
the procession.

"Eight villages from Ubud's district will send 200 people each
to participate in the procession. We expect the number of
participants to be somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500," Rio Helmi
said.

The melancholic gong suling and angklung orchestras, which are
usually featured in Hindu funeral ceremonies, will accompany the
silent procession in which each participant will hold a candle
and bamboo torch.

The procession will start at Peliatan soccer field and end
some three kilometers away at the Ubud soccer field on Monkey
Forest Road.

Then religious leaders from five religions will lead a mass
prayer. Representatives of three communities, the Balinese,
Indonesian migrants and expatriates, will deliver short messages.

A government representative will acknowledge the work of the
outstanding volunteers, who displayed remarkable dedication and
compassion during the terrible night of Oct. 12 and the
subsequent days of horror.

White doves symbolizing peace will be released at the end of
the mass prayer.

Both the art performances and the night market will be held at
the soccer field and will start at 7 p.m. on Saturday
and Sunday.

The art performance evenings will feature Balinese, Japanese
and Thai music and dance, contemporary music and dance and poetry
and painting.

Well-known Balinese poets Cok Sawitri and Tan Lioe Ie, painter
Nyoman Erawan, musician Gung Oka Dalem and Tony Prabowo, and the
Batuan ethnic group will be some of the participating artists.

Some major hotels and restaurants will participate in the
night market by setting up food booths in the soccer field. Meal
coupons will be priced at about Rp 5,000.

There are art exhibitions taking place at various museums in
Ubud. These include the Classic Balinese Paintings exhibition at
Puri Lukisan Museum, Diversity in Unity, contemporary Indonesian
paintings at ARMA, Living in Harmony at Neka Museum, and We Love
Peace, featuring artwork by Balinese women, at the Seniwati
Gallery.

A cartoon exhibition will be held at the Batan Warua. Writer
Goenawan Mohamad is scheduled to launch his book Conversations
with a Difference at Ary's Warung.

To Bali with Love an exhibition of email letters and images
from all over the world, sent in response to the Kuta tragedy,
will take place at the Threads of Life: Indonesian Textile Arts
Center.

Meanwhile, Kuta Kita (Our Kuta), a photo exhibition by 10
photojournalists, will take place at Komaneka Gallery.

Participating hotels and shops will be offering discounts of
up to 50 percent, while restaurants will take 15 percent off
patrons' bills during the tribute and for every weekend in the
month of November.