Youths prefer worship to parties on New Year

JAKARTA (JP): Youth organizations at several houses of worship here are set to organize religious activities to mark the New Year, which falls on Saturday, amid growing tendencies among city dwellers to exuberantly celebrate the annual event which will also be the changing of the millennium.

Interviewed separately, activists of the youth organizations said it would be meaningful to spend the night at a place of worship rather than join parties at entertainment spots.

"The activities will strengthen our ties with God. Moreover, the New Year falls during the holy Ramadhan fasting month," said Sunarti, an activist of Islamic Youths at Sunda Kelapa Mosque (Riska), based at the Sunda Kelapa Mosque in Central Jakarta.

She said the organization would organize "I'tikaf Millennium", in which the participants would follow a series of activities from New Year's Eve to dawn on Jan. 1.

"I'tikaf comprises a session discussing a topic based on the Holy Koran, another session listening to lectures from preachers and a mass sholat (Islamic prayer)," said Sunarti.

Riska has 5,000 active members throughout the city, from junior high school students to white collar workers.

Another youth organization, the Youth Islamic Study Club (YISC), based at the Al Azhar Mosque in South Jakarta, will organize similar activities.

"We will hold an interactive dialog with preachers, with the theme of Millennium Reflection," said Ahmad Ma'sum, an activist of YISC.

The Catholic Youth of Cathedral Church in Central Jakarta is scheduled to provide worship activities entitled "Millennium Kasih" on New Year's Eve.

"We will have a mass prayer at 8 p.m. It will be followed by a music play until 11.30 p.m," said Theresia Yanti, an activist of the organization.

She said that at 12 p.m. the participants would release balloons which would be attached to papers decorated with their personal wishes in welcoming the New Year.

Meanwhile, Temple Hian Tian Siang Tee, which is located behind the Palmerah market in Central Jakarta, will not hold special activities.

"People may come to the temple to conduct regular prayers," said Kim Liong, a temple executive.

Separately, the City Public Order Agency will set strict measures to oversee New Year's Eve parties organized by entertainment spots in the city.

"We will deploy 120 officials to entertainment spots throughout city's five mayoralties to oversee their activities," said Tongam Tambunan, head of the agency's entertainment section.

Tongam said any entertainment spots violating the governor's instruction not to operate after the stipulated time of 3.00 a.m on Jan. 1, would be closed down for one to two weeks. (05/asa)