Kuningan Holiday,

Bali

Date:  8th December

Kuningan holiday is believed to be the ascendent day of ancestral holy spirits and Deities back to heaven. On this day, special dishes are offered and every family compound and temple is decorated with ornaments made of young coconut leaves and flowers.

A Temple anniversary is also celebrationed in several places in Bali.

Darwin - Manado Yatch Race 2008,

Manado, North Sulawesi

Date: 15th December-21st December

This event is intended to enchance sportmanship, friendship and pride for their cultural heritage among locals, and promotes the good ties between Australia and Indonesia. The race finishes in Manado where a reception committee welcomes participants to the island with ceremonies and traditional performances.

The 4th Commemoration of Tsunami,

West Aceh

Date: 26th December

The day of commemoration for the Aceh Tsunami tragedy in 2004. During the ceremony more than 1000 people pray for God's blessing. There is an Islam poem recital and exhibition.

New Year’s Day,

Throughout Indonesia

Date: 1st Janury

A public holiday, the celebration of International New Year’s Eve is often celebrated with the street carnivals, fireworks, special entertainments and shows.

In most big cities, such as Jakarta, Medan, Bandung, Surabaya and Jogjakarta, New Year’s Eve is the time for merrymaking all night long for young and old alike. Usually paper horns are blown to mark the coming of the New Year.

Toa Peh Kong,

Manado

Date: 1st January

A Buddhist’s ritual procession held annually in the Chinese calendar month. This event highlights Chinese cultural performances, dragon parades, as well as various lion and dragon dances.

Muslim New Year, 1429 H,

Throughout Indonesia

Date: 10th January

The first of Muharram (Muslim’s first month in lunar calendar) is a national holiday. Most Muslims celebrate it with an introspective review of the previous year and donating their goods and money to the needy.

Ruwat Bumi Ceremony,

Tegal, Central Java

Date: 31st January

A thanksgiving ceremony performed by the local farmers, taking place in “Guci” hot water springs about 33 km away from Tegal. Guci is a mountain resort, 1,050 metres above sea level with the temperature ranging from 12.8° - 21.9° Celcius. The unique part of the ceremony is when the locals bathe goats under 13 years old under hot water. Locals also scrafice a goat at “Gunung Kelir”. The event is ended at night with the local folk performances.

Chinese New Year,

Throughout Indonesia

Date: 7th February

A public holiday, this event includes festivals and celebrations such as Chinese cultural performances, dragons and lions parades and Chinese goods fairs.

Sea Offering Ceremony,

Cilacap, Central Java

Date: 7th February

This is a traditional event, held annually by the fishing community in Sidakaya, Donan, Sentolo, Jawat, Lengkong and Tegal. The climax of this event is when the offerings (“Jolen”) are brought in a procession starting from the Cilacap Regent’s Residence to Pandanarang at the beach of Teluk Penyu. Various art performances are held and the "Jolen" are transferred to colourfully decorated boat, to be drifted offshore in the Indian Ocean at the small island of Majeti. This ceremony ends in the evening, with traditional art performances held in the fishing village.

Gathering, Tourism Funday,

Anyer, Banten

Date: 15th February

This yearly event is organized by the local government. This week long festival is highlighted by cultural performances, exhibition of handicraft products and various sport/traditional contests.

Bau Nyale Putri Mandalika,

Kuta Beach, Central Lombok

Date: 15th March

Bumi Khatulistiwa Cultural Festival,

Pontianak, West Kalimantan

Date: 21st-23rd March

Held twice a year to commemorate the natural phenomenon of the city Pontianak which lies right on the imaginary Equator line. The festival features traditional West Kalimantan art, tourism and cultural exhibitions, also traditional sport competitions. Contests and seminars are also held, attracting a wide variety of people.

Sekaten Fair,

Surakarta/Solo, Central Java

Sekaten Ceremony,

Alun-Alun Utara Kraton, Jogjakarta

Date: 14th April

Held during the weeks preceding the commemoration of the prophet Muhammad’s birthday, Sekaten begins at midnight. Two sets of ancient and sacred gamelan percussion instruments are brought in procession from the western side of the palace square to mark the beginning of this ceremony. During the whole week the two sets of gamelan are played continuously night and day. Accompanied by a fair at the square in front of the mosque where local handicrafts and items of folk arts are sold, Sekaten ends when the two sets of gamelan are brought back again in procession, to the Kraton.

MAY 2009

Isem Mulang A Dayak Art and Cultural Festival,

Palangkaraya

Date: 19th May

Isen Mulang, an Art and Cultural Event, is the representation of the Dayak art and culture. It is also the blending of Indonesian art and culture under the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity). It is an annual event in Central Kalimantan province that is always conducted in the spirit of simplicity and away from the glamorous living.

Discover the unique world of art and traditional culture of the beautiful land of Dayak in Central Kalimantan at Palangka Raya city, the capital of central Kalimantan Province - Indonesia.

Sriwijaya Festival,

Palembang, South Sumatra

Kerinci Cultural Festival,

Jambi

Date: 17th July

Aimed to promote tourism potential, this festival is held over the period of a week. Highlighted with art performances, traditional sport competitions and exhibitions of local handicrafts products.

Swimming Buffalo Race,

Banjarmasin

Date: 15th August

Independence Day,

Throughout Indonesia

Date: 17th August

The Indonesia National Independence Day is celebrated throughout the country with Jakarta as the centre. Local communities organise traditional sports events, puppet and shadow plays, traditional cultural performances, carnivals and festivals. A solemn flag raising ceremony is held at the Merdeka Presidential Palace.

Pacu Jalur,

Teluk Kuantan, Indragiri Hulu, Riau

Date: 23rd August

Every decorative Jalur (canoe) used for the race on Kuantan River is made of one single large tree bark, approximately 30 metres long and 1 metre wide, manned by 25-30 rowers. In the old days, the festival was held after a harvest and was considered sacred however it has now become more of a celebration.

Labuhan Ceremony,

Parang Kusuma Beach and the Peak of Mt Merapi and Mt. Lawu, Yogyakarta

Date: 25th August

Labuhan Ceremony is an offering ritual at Parang Kusumo Beach, south of Yogyakarta, coinciding with the birthday of the Sultan of Yogyakarta. The offering is held to please Nyi Roro Kidul, the legendary goddess of the south sea (the Indian ocean). Similar rituals are held at the peaks of volcanoes Merapi and Lawu.

SEPTEMBER 2009

Bengawan Solo Festival,

Surakarta/Solo, Central Java

Date: 1st September

Bengawan Solo Festival (BSF) is an annual, nation-wide event for the trade, culture, and tourism sector. The programs held in this event are Borobudur Trade Mart, Solo Great Sale, and Trade & Tourism Exhibition.

Last year's festival includes:

-Culture & art carnival and fireworks at Puro Mengkunegaran
-Handicraft exhibition at Puro Mengkunegaran
-Central Java Tourism Ambassador Ballot at Novotel
-Tourism Expo and Borobudur Travel Mart in Solo
-Barongsai Competition at Gelora Menahan
-Photography Competition and Exhibition at Grha Wisata
-Mural Exhibition in Solo

To reconfirm events, dates, and places, you can contact The Central Java Tourism Information Center (TIC) on: +62 24 351545.

Karapan Sapi Bull Races,

Madura

Date: 1st September-October

This very popular sport and spectacle is held regularly at least twice a month during September to October begining at 09.00 at Bangkalan, Sampang and Pamekasan on the Island of Madura about half an hour by ferry from Surabaya. The finals are held at Pamekasan, capital of the island, one a year. Special races can be organized, given three days advance notice. For further information please contact the East Java Provincial Tourist Office on: (031) 8531815 , 8531820.

Bunaken Festival,

Manado, North Sulawesi

Date: 8th September

A small island of the coast of Manado, Bunaken is famous for its marine life. Highlights during the festival include art and cultural performances from the ethnic groups living in the North Sulawesi Province. The performances are held in an open air stage and include legends or folklores, bamboo music and a pop song festival.

Anniversary Of North Sulawesi,

North Sulawesi

Date: 23rd September

The official establishment of the province of North Sulawesi is celebrated with cultural performances and fashion shows in Manado and in the smaller towns and villages. Horse and bull races are usually held in Manado. For the youth there is a contest to select "Noni and Nyong Sulut" (Miss and Mr. North Sulawesi).

Dragon Boat Festival,

Tanjung Pinang, Riau  

Date: 1st October

Dragon Boat Race is an international contest held at the Tanjung Pinang seaside (Riau) facing the Penyengat Island. Visitors can enjoy the remnants of Malay history. Other activities are traditional cultural performances, a swimming contest for men and women, canoe races and a traditional diving contest.

Perang Topat (Topat War),

West Nusa Tenggara

Date: 1st October

The farmers and other community members in Pura Lingsar about 10 km from the town of Mataram throw "Ketupat" (steamed rice wrapped in palm leaves) at each other in ceremony in the hopes that they will be prosperous. The ceremony is held in the late afternoon and this event is held at Pura Lindsar, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.