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.