Jakarta. The Jakarta provincial government will implement a Car-Free Night on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, banning private vehicles in several areas from 10 p.m. local time. Eid is expected to fall on March 20 or 21, pending confirmation at a moon-sighting session scheduled for March 19.

“We have approved the Car-Free Night for the eve of Eid. Starting at 10 p.m., vehicles will be restricted in certain areas to allow the public to celebrate safely,” Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo said during a press conference at Jakarta City Hall on Tuesday.

While private vehicles will be restricted, public transportation services will remain operational, including TransJakarta buses, ensuring residents can move around the city freely.

The exact locations for the car-free zones are still being finalized, but the government aims to create public spaces where communities can enjoy celebrations ahead of Eid without the disruption of traffic congestion.

Alongside the Car-Free Night, Jakarta will host a Bedug Festival on March 19, featuring traditional drumming performances, as well as a torch parade, designed to symbolize the city’s festive spirit in welcoming Eid al-Fitr.

“The Bedug Festival and torch parade will provide a lively atmosphere and encourage community participation while maintaining safety and order,” Pramono said.

Jakarta's Nyepi Celebrations

Jakarta also continues to support cultural and religious diversity. Recently, the city hosted a Pawai Ogoh-Ogoh effigy parade in preparation for Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu Day of Silence, on March 8 at Bundaran Hotel Indonesia.

“Jakarta is multicultural and multiethnic; every community deserves space to express their beliefs openly,” Pramono said.

The city’s Nyepi program includes four main clusters: religious rituals, social activities, cultural festivals, and post-Nyepi community gatherings. Key events include:

• Melasti ritual (March 15, Pura Segara, North Jakarta) – cleansing of self and the universe

• Tawur Agung Kesanga (March 18, Pura Aditya Jaya, East Jakarta) – neutralizing negative energies before Nyepi

• Community service initiatives, such as free medical checkups, blood donations, and financial literacy seminars

• Cultural parades and effigy displays

• Dharma Santi gatherings to strengthen social bonds post-Nyepi

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