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ABOUT INDONESIA > CLIMATE > FLORA AND FAUNA > PEOPLE AND CULTURE > LANGAUGE > HISTORY > UNITY IN DIVERSITY
Living
on more than 13,400 islands, the Indonesian nation today counts some
200 million population comprising more than 200 ethnic groups. After
Independence in 1945 inter-marriages among people of different ethnic
groups have welded the population into a more cohesive Indonesian
nation.
The majority of the population embraces
Islam, while in Bali the Hindu religion is predominant. Whereas in areas
like the Minahasa in North Sulawesi, the Toraja highlands in South
Sulawesi, in the East Nusatenggara islands and in large parts of Papua,
in the Batak highlands as well as on Nias island in North Sumatra, the
majority are either Catholics or Protestants. On the whole the
Indonesian people are religious in nature. And, true to the Pancasila, the
five principles of nationhood, - namely Belief in the One and Only God,
a Just and Civilized Humanity, the Unity of Indonesia, Democracy
through unanimous deliberations, and Social Justice for all - Indonesian
societies are open and remain tolerant towards one another’s religion,
customs and traditions, all the while faithfully adhering to their own.
The Indonesian coat of arms moreover bears the motto: Bhinneka Tunggal Ika – Unity in Diversity.
Although today’s youth especially in the
large cities is modern and follow international trends, yet when it
comes to weddings, couples still adhere to traditions on the side of
both the bride’s and bridegroom’s parents. So in a mixed ethnic wedding,
the vows and wedding traditions may follow the bride’s family’s, while
during the reception elaborate decorations and costumes follow the
groom’s ethnic traditions, or vice versa. Weddings and wedding
receptions in Indonesia are a great introduction to Indonesia’s many and
diverse customs and traditions. Weddings are often also occasions to
display one’s social status, wealth and fashion sense. Even in villages,
hundreds or even thousands of wedding invitees line up to congratulate
the couple and their parents who are seated on stage, and then enjoy the
wedding feast and entertainment.
The Arts and Celebrations
The Indonesian archipelago harbours many
ancient cultures that are rooted here, while throughout its history
through centuries until today the islands have been influenced by
Indian, Chinese, Arabic and European cultures, and lately also by the
global popular culture, international travel and internet. Foreign
cultures and traditions, however, are absorbed and assimilated by the
people producing unique “Indonesian” creations found nowhere else in the
world.
On 2 October 2009, UNESCO recognized Indonesia’s “Batik” as World Intangible Cultural Heritage, adding to the earlier recognized Indonesia’s “Keris” (the wavy blade dagger), and the “Wayang” shadow puppets. Further being considered as World Heritage is the “Angklung” bamboo musical instrument from West Java, being uniquely “Indonesian”.
Indonesia’s culture is indeed rich in
the arts and crafts. In textiles, Sumatra produces some of the best gold
and silver-thread woven sarongs, known as songket; South
Sulawesi women produce colourful hand-woven silks, while Bali, Flores
and Timor produce some of the best textiles from natural fibers using
complicated motifs. In wood craft, Bali’s artisans produce beautiful
sculptures, as do the Asmat in Papua, both traditional and modern,
Central Java’s craftsmen produce finely carved furniture, while Bugis
shipbuilders of South Sulawesi continue to build the majestic “phinisi” schooners that ply the Indonesian seas until today.
The large variety of different cultures and traditions throughout the
country is also expressed in numerous exciting and interesting events,
both religious and popular, that are held throughout the year. (See
Calendar of Events).
Among these are the colourful religious Hindu Dharma ceremonies held continuously on Bali, the court processions during Sekaten in Yogyakarta, Java, preceding the birth date of the Prophet Mohammad, as well as the Tabot Festival in Bengkulu,
Sumatra, a ceremony commemorating the role of Prophet Muhammad’s
grandchildren, Hasan and Husein in spreading the faith. The Buddhist Vaisak Ceremonies are held yearly around Borobudur, as is the Chinese Toa Peh Kong festival in Manado, while the Feasts to the Dead are held in Toraja, both latter on the island of Sulawesi, and the Kasada ceremony is held annually at the end of the year on Mt. Bromo in East Java, the appease the ancestors and the mountain gods.
Indonesia is also strong in the
performing arts. The beautiful Ramayana dance drama is enacted during
the dry season at the large open stage at Prambanan near Yogyakarta
under a tropical full moon and against the dramatic illuminated
background of this 9th.century temple. Indonesia’s dances are colourful,
dramatic or entertaining. They vary from the highly synchronized “saman”
song and dance from Aceh, to the sedate and sophisticated court dances
from Java accompanied by the liquid sounds of the gamelan orchestra, to
the war dances of Kalimantan, Papua, and Sulawesi.
Chinese influence can be seen along the entire north coast of Java from the batik patterns of Cirebon and Pekalongan, to the finely carved furniture and doors of Kudus in Central Java, as also in the intricate gold embroidered wedding costumes of West Sumatra.But Indonesia does not live in the past alone. Today, in music, in metropolitan Jakarta, the Java Jazz Festival is the annual meeting highlight for top international and Indonesian jazz musicians. Indonesia also boasts some of the best rock and pop bands and singers. Bands like Nidji, Ungu, Slang, Peter Pan and singing celebrities like Rossa, Agnes Monica, Kris Dayanti, Pasha, Ari Lasso, and many others, never fail to create a sensation wherever they appear in Indonesia as also in Malaysia and Singapore.
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