Jakarta. Jakarta Transportation Agency (Dishub DKI Jakarta) will impose strict traffic engineering measures across key thoroughfares in Central Jakarta on Friday night, as thousands gather for a large-scale, government-organized Eid eve celebration centered around Jalan MH Thamrin and the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout.

The event, Jakarta Bedug Kolosal, will feature a torch parade involving 5,000 participants and a 1,000-bedug drum festival stretching from Thamrin to Sudirman, marking a shift toward a more structured and safer takbiran celebration.

“This Jakarta Bedug Kolosal event includes an Eid eve torch parade that will pass through the Southwest Gate of the National Monument intersection, the Bank Indonesia roundabout, Jalan MH Thamrin, and end at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout,” acting Transportation Agency head Ujang Harmawan said in an official statement on Friday.

To accommodate the event, authorities will temporarily close several major roads, including:

• Jalan Jenderal Sudirman (from the Karet Pasar Baru Timur III intersection to HI Roundabout)
• Jalan MH Thamrin (from HI Roundabout to the Patung Kuda Roundabout)
• Supporting roads: Jalan Kupingan BNI 46, Jalan Kota Bumi, Jalan Baturaja, Jalan Teluk Betung, Jalan Kebon Kacang, Jalan Kebon Sirih, Jalan KH Wahid Hasyim, Jalan Sunda, and Jalan Imam Bonjol

Officials are urging residents to avoid affected areas, use alternative routes, and prioritize public transportation such as TransJakarta, MRT, LRT, and the Commuter Line.

“We urge the public to avoid impacted roads, follow traffic arrangements, comply with road signs and officers’ instructions, and prioritize safety,” Ujang said.

The event will run from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., with Bundaran HI as the focal point. Key highlights include:

• A 1,000-bedug and rampak bedug (synchronized drum) performance
• A torch parade involving 5,000 participants
• Visual attractions including a dancing fountain, lighting and laser shows, and a flying LED display
• A religious sermon by Ustadz Akri and a special performance by religious singer Hadad Alwi

In recent years, Jakarta has transformed its takbiran tradition from scattered vehicle convoys into a centralized cultural and religious festival. The provincial government says the initiative is designed to provide a safer, more orderly, and artistically engaging way for residents to celebrate Eid.

By using iconic public spaces such as Bundaran HI and incorporating large-scale visual elements, the city also aims to promote urban religious tourism while reducing the risk of accidents and severe congestion often associated with informal street parades.

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