We Must Maintain Harmony, Peace Ahead of Elections, VP Says

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 7 April 2019
Category: News
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Vice President Jusuf Kalla delivers speech at National Dharma Santi Nyepi celebration, at the Art Center, Denpasar, Bali, Saturday (6/4). (Photo By: Ministry of Religious Affairs)

Vice President Jusuf Kalla delivers speech at National Dharma Santi Nyepi celebration, at the Art Center, Denpasar, Bali, Saturday (6/4). (Photo By: Ministry of Religious Affairs)

Maintaining harmony and peace in the country ahead of the April 17 elections is important, according to Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

“Bali is a place where religion and culture go hand in hand. General elections basically share similarity with the philosophy of Balinese holy day celebrations. General Elections are forms of evaluation of the leaders’ performance during their five-year administration. The concept is same as the philosophy of holy days, including Nyepi (Bali Day of Silence) celebration of the Saka New Year, namely evaluation, ” Kalla said during National Dharma Santi Nyepi celebration at the Art Center, Denpasar, Bali, Saturday (6/4).

Kalla went on to say that every religion has a philosophy of self-purification and improvement to become the best version of themself in the future.

Dharma Santi (an amicable gathering in Hinduism Tradition) is in a series of Nyepi celebrations meaning to forgive each other for harmony and prosperity.

In the meantime, Chairperson of the Event Committee Samudera Ginantara explained that this year’s Dharma Santi ceremony adopts the theme “Through Catur Brata Penyepian (four rules of silence), Lets Support the General Elections.” According to him, Hindus should play an active role in making the upcoming elections a success.

For the record, there are four main agendas of the celebration of Saka New Year 1941, namely social, intellectual, ritual, and ceremonial activities. The committee provided free medical treatment for the people, distributed food packages (known as sembako), planted trees, organized blood donor, provided clean and healthy lifestyle counseling, and organized mass yoga for social activities.

“National Workshop to support Intellectual Activities was held on February 23, adopting the theme ‘How to Deal with the 4.0 Industrial Revolution’. The event received a positive welcome by Hindus across Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek),” Samudera said.

Regarding to Ritual Activities, a Tawur Agung Kesanga (the Procession Ahead of Nyepi Day of Silence)  was held at Prambanan Temple courtyard on March 6. (PR of the Ministry of Religious Affairs/EN)

 

 

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Edited by: Rany Anjany/M. Ersan Pamungkas

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