Bali Provincial Government Will Arrange Tarawih Activities In The Month Of Fasting Coinciding Nyepi Celebration

Nyepi atmosphere in Bali (ANTARA)

DENPASAR - The Bali Provincial Government through the Governor of Bali Wayan Koster will issue a circular regarding the Nyepi Holy Day which coincides with the first tarawih prayer in the month of Ramadan 1444 Hijri from Muhammadiyah circles.

Head of the Bali Province National and Political Unity Agency (Kesbangpol) Ngurah Wiryanata said Kesbangpol Bali does not have the authority to execute but is at the coordination level.

However, he said, a circular regarding the scheme for the implementation of tarawih on the first day in the middle of Nyepi Holy Day had been submitted by the Bali Ministry of Religion Regional Office.

"The Ministry of Religion's Regional Office gave an appeal from across religions, because coincidentally sometimes Nyepi got hit on Sunday like he used to be Christian friends who suggested that," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, March 10.

Kesbangpol has not yet conveyed when the circular regarding Nyepi and the first tarawih from Governor Koster came down, but reflecting on the direction of the Bali Ministry of Religion Regional Office there are several points.

"We are still coordinating, so we urge Muslim friends who carry out tarawih prayers on the first day of the fasting month to carry it out at the nearest place of worship, even then on foot and not turning on the speaker (noise speaker)," he said.

In addition, the implementation of the Nyepi Cakka 1945 series which falls on March 22, 2023 and the first tarawih prayer month of Ramadan 1444 Hijri is ensured to be smooth, in collaboration with traditional village officials, pecalang, and related security forces.

"But thankfully in Bali, no one has ever been sticking out or rioting because of Nyepi's implementation, our tolerance is quite good, hopefully Nyepi is like that, because it is very, very risky," said Ngurah Wiryanata.

Chairman of Parisadha Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) Bali Nyoman Kenak added that so far Hindus and other religions have always been going hand in hand.

"The Hindu religious activities that coincide with religious activities other than Hinduism in Bali are not new. Several times happened, but because of the efforts of all parties, the implementation of religious activities between the two took place safely and in an orderly manner," he said.

He hopes that no problems will occur on Nyepi Holy Day, which first coincides with the beginning of the fasting month.

"(Hopefully) Nyepi will run safely. Let's respect our own holy day, as a symbol of sacred service to Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa," said Nyoman Kenak.