Nyepi New Year of Saka 1948 Celebrated Solemnly at Pura Giri Loka Wonosalam
Jombang, Jayanews.com – Members of the Hindu community under the Indonesian Hindu Dharma Council (Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia/PHDI) observed the Nyepi Hindu New Year of Saka 1948 in a solemn and reverent ceremony at Pura Giri Loka Wonomerto, Wonosalam District, Jombang Regency, on Wednesday (18/3/2026).
This year’s celebration carried the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family,” a philosophical message underscoring the importance of caring for the Earth as the common source of life for all humanity.
The series of events unfolded in a spirit both festive and sacred, opening with a communal prayer procession followed by the ogoh-ogoh parade — an iconic Nyepi tradition symbolizing the purification of the human spirit from negative traits.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Wonosalam Sub-district Leadership Forum (Muspika), including the Sub-district Head, the Military District Commander (Danramil), and the Chief of Police (Kapolsek).
Delivering remarks ahead of the ogoh-ogoh parade, Wonosalam Sub-district Head Yudha Asmara, S.STP., M.E., expressed his appreciation for the smooth conduct of the celebration. He emphasized the importance of preserving Wonosalam as a shared, peaceful living space across religions, beliefs, and ethnicities.
“Wonosalam must continue to be nurtured as a place where we live together in peace. This is a great laboratory of tolerance in Indonesia, where differences are not dividers, but a source of strength,” Yudha said.
A highlight of this year’s celebration was the strong show of support from various interfaith and community organizations. Several groups participated actively in securing and facilitating the event, among them Gerakan Pemuda Ansor through its Banser wing, the Communion of Churches in Indonesia through the PAGER (Church Community) unit, the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) Jombang Branch, as well as Pemuda Pancasila and the Wonosalam Youth Organization (Karang Taruna).
The presence of these interfaith elements reinforced the message that Nyepi is not solely a Hindu religious ritual, but also a shared space to celebrate universal human values.
The occasion carried even deeper meaning given that this year’s Nyepi coincides with the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims and the approach of Easter for Christians — a rare convergence of three religious calendars that further deepens the spirit of unity in diversity.
The Nyepi celebration at Pura Giri Loka Wonomerto this year reaffirms Wonosalam’s reputation as a region known for its harmonious diversity. Tolerance here is not merely discourse — it is a living practice embedded in the daily lives of its people.
In the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the celebration stands as a symbol of universal brotherhood: that above all differences in faith and tradition, all of humanity is, in truth, one family sharing the same Earth.**
Lukius, Contributor of Jombang
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