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Indonesia Rings in 2012 With Parties, Color, Light, Culture and Prayer
Bayu Marhaenjati & Antara | January 02, 2012

Fireworks explode in downtown Jakarta Fireworks explode in downtown Jakarta's sky during the New Year 2012 celebrations on Saturday where thousands of people gather to witness the coming of new year 2012. (AFP Photo/Bay Ismoyo)
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As the clock struck midnight on Saturday, revelers packed Jakarta’s hot spots to welcome 2012.

In the capital, where intense fireworks ushered in the new year, close to 125,000 people packed Ragunan Zoo the morning after. Some 150,000 people headed to Carnaval Beach at the Ancol Recreational Park in the evening and was hours later packed with holiday makers spending the first day of the year with family and friends.

Despite the thick crowds at the zoo, Pasar Minggu Police chief Comr. Sunarto said no violence were reported and only one case of a stolen wallet was reported.

In Bali, fireworks greeted the arrival of the new year. Light shows, many of which lasted more than 30 minutes, lit up the skies over Denpasar, Sanur and Kuta.

One Bali resident who had witnessed similar celebrations in Jakarta during previous New Year’s celebrations, said that the firework shows in Bali this year were much more spectacular.

“I wonder how much money was wasted on firecrackers and fireworks like that?” the resident asked during the show at Lumintang field in Denpasar.

In Waykanan, Lampung, festivities on New Year’s Eve involved traditional performances and local arts and culture.

“There were of course a lot of young people coming to New Year’s Eve parties, and we wanted take advantage of this opportunity by inviting traditional artists to perform for them,” said Ridwant, the head of the festivities’ organizing committee in Baradatu, Waykanan.

In Makassar, celebrations were relatively quiet, but the “Solidarity of Former Criminal Prisoners” made use of the festive mood to open a small night post in Manggala, with 500 members providing dinner and entertaining local residents.

“The purpose of the block party is to help reduce crime,” especially in the Borong neighborhood where the post was built, said Faisal, a local coordinator.

In the Riau Islands, a team of navy marines put on a martial demonstration at the seaside district office just before midnight. The show was followed by fireworks launched from barges offshore.

In Ambon, the capital of Maluku province and the scene of violence and tension between Muslims and Christians over the past year, New Year’s Eve proceeded peacefully with the city’s Christians attending mass at local churches. At some churches, community members stood guard to ensure people could worship in peace. In defiance of the sectarian violence that has come to define the city, members of the Mosque Youth Associations helped stand guard.

“This is our own idea. We felt we should do this,” said Zulkifili Lestaluhu, the association’s Ambon chapter chief.

The peak of Mount Dempo in South Sumatra was packed with revellers on New Year’s Eve, with at least 300 mountain hikers embarking on the climb to mark the last day of the year.

In Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, rain could not dampen celebrations in the city square. Thousands gathered at the square for the final countdown to 2012 that was followed by a fireworks.