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- Pasola, Sumba. Pasola is the most spectacular and significant event in the calendar for the people of Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara. Held annually in February and March, Pasola is a ritual battle, when tribes come together to act out war games and appease ancient animist gods with bloodshed.
- Lake Toba Festival, North Sumatra. Held in September each year, the Lake Toba Festival features music, arts and crafts, traditional sports competitions, a tourism seminar and exhibitions.
- Djakarta Warehouse Project, Jakarta. Djakarta Warehouse Project (or DWP) is an electrifying music festival held in the nation’s capital every December.
- Ubud Readers and Writers Festival, Bali. Southeast Asia’s largest and most renowned cultural and literary event, Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) brings together a diverse mix of Indonesian and international writers, speakers, thinkers, artists, advocates, commentators and activists, to create a space for cross-cultural dialogue and connection.
- Rambu Solo - Sending The Dead to The After-Life
- Nyepi - The Day of Silence in Bali
- Bau Nyale Fishing Festival - Fishing Out The Legendary Nyale
- Baliem Valley Festival - Mock-War Amongst The Papua Tribes
- Dieng Culture Festival - The Dreadlock Shaving Ceremony
- Waisak (Vesak) - Observation of The Life of Buddha
- Pasola - Jousting Festival of The Sumba People
- Galungan - Indonesian Festival Celebrating Good Over Evil
- Independence Day - Indonesia's Independence from The Dutch
- Bidar Boat Race - Boat Race to Celebrate Independence
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More of a tradition than a 'festival' per se, Rambu Solo is followed by the Toraja people from south Sulawesi in Indonesia's highlands. It is a funeral ceremony intended to send off the spirits of the dead to the after-world. It involves a lot of fascinating funeral rites performed by the family to reduce their own misfortunes after the death. Ther...
This festival commemorates the Balinese New Year. Although the date changes each year, it is generally observed in the month of March. 'Nyepi' translates to 'day of silence' and it involves fasting, meditation and prayers. It is customary that lights be switched off (or kept dim), travel reduced to a minimum, and no work be performed on this day. I...
Every year during the months of February or March, hundreds of people rush to Lombokto catch the Bau Nyale festival. It derives its name from Bau meaning 'to catch' and nyale, a type of sea-worm. The legend of this festival in Indonesia involves a mythical Princess Mandalika, who drowned in the waters of Lombok while trying to escape an arranged ma...
This Indonesian festival is unique to the people of Papua, a set of islands in Indonesia's eastern province. It involves the staging of a mock-war as it is believed that war is a symbol of prosperity and fertility. Over 20 tribes of Indonesia come together for this festival that spans two days. Aside from the mock-war, traditional dances are perfor...
In central Java, the children in the Dieng plateau have a fascinating genetic make-up. Upon reaching puberty, their naturally straight hair starts to form dreadlocks. When this happens, they wait till August every year for their hair to be shaved off in an elaborate ceremony that is the heart of the Dieng Culture Festival in Indonesia. This ritual ...
An important Buddhist festival not just in Indonesia but for every country with Buddhist communities, Vesak commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha. It is called Buddha Purnima in India. It takes place on a full-moon day in early May, though it has been celebrated in June occasionally. In Indonesia, monks, pilgrims and dev...
Taking place every year in western Sumba, the Indonesian festival of Pasola occurs in February or March every year. It is a jousting festival in which participants ride horseback without saddles and attack each other with wooden-spears called hola. In fact, the word 'pasola' is derived from the word 'hola'. According to legend, the festival is cele...
Galungan is a Hindu festival in Indonesia is closely related to Diwali in India. Although the dates differ between both festivals, they are both celebrated to express gratitude to God, ward off evil spirits, and invite ancestral spirits back to Earth to the family home. Galungan commemorates the victory of good over evil. Across Indonesia, the stre...
Formerly a Dutch colony, Indonesia became an independent nation on 17th August, 1945. Every year, this day is celebrated with great aplomb throughout the country. There are parades held in the capital city of Jakarta in front of the President at the Presidential Palace. People often hoist flags in their homes. Towns and villages conduct friendly co...
This festival in Indonesia is celebrated in tandem with its Independence Day. It takes place in Palembang in south Sumatra. Large boats made from hardwood trees are crafted throughout the year to be raced on this special day. They can be anywhere between 20-30 metres long, decorated with bright paints and patterns. The boats are propelled by almost...
Learn about the diverse and fascinating festivals in Indonesia, from the Toraja funeral rites to the Balinese New Year. Discover the legends, rituals, dances and food that make these celebrations unique and colourful.
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- Chap Goh Meh in Singkawang. In West Kalimantan Province, Singkawang's sizeable ethnic Chinese community celebrates Chinese New Year with the keen participation of Malay and Dayak communities as well.
- Waisak in Borobudur. Waisak is, for Indonesian Buddhists, a celebration of the Buddha's birth, death and enlightenment. On the full moon that marks the eve of the festival, the massive mandala of Borobudur in Magelang becomes the focus for a solemn procession in the moonlight.
- Bali Arts Festival. The culture-crazy island of Bali becomes the focal point for one of Indonesia's biggest arts festivals every July. First established in 1979 as “the basic forum for the growth of our love of the arts,” as expressed by Bali's then-Governor Ida Bagus Mantra, the celebration has grown by leaps and bounds in the ensuing decades, now bringing together artists and disciplines from not just Bali, but from all over Indonesia.
- Jakarta Fair Kemayoran. The Indonesian capital of Jakarta hosts Indonesia's largest fair every June at the Jakarta International Exhibition Center. Held to coincide with the city's founding anniversary on June 22, the Jakarta Fair unfolds over the span of a whole month, with exhibits featuring musical acts, carnivals, and the Miss Jakarta pageant.
Feb 17, 2020 · Learn about the diverse and vibrant festivals in Indonesia, from religious ceremonies to cultural events. Find out when and where to attend the most popular festivals in 2022, such as Nyepi, Jember Fashion Carnival, Baliem Valley Festival, and more.
- Kiran Bisht
- There are 300 ethnic groups in Indonesia each with their own sets of customs and traditions. Javanese make 40% of the ethnicity.
- Sate and Beef Rendang are to of the most famous Indonesian food items that you must try on your holiday in Indonesia. Fried rice, oxtail soup, and...
- Yes, Christmas is celebrated in Indonesia since 10% of the population is Christian. This makes 20 million Christians on the island. You will find a...
- Though Halloween is not a part of the Balinese culture the celebration of the same has started to take place at some venues in Bali. This is the re...
- No, Balinese do not celebrate the Hindu festivals of Deepavali or Holi. Nyepi is an important Hindu festival in Bali, Indonesia.
- Galungan Festival is one of the most popular and most significant Balinese festivals. This festival is observed to celebrate the victory of good (d...
- The majority of religion in Indonesia is Islam. Going by the 2010 Indonesian census, 87.18% of Indonesian population identify themselves as Muslim....
- Indonesia observes and celebrates several religious, cultural and music festivals. There are about 15 major festivals celebrated in the country. Th...
- Indonesia observes numerous festivals throughout the year for different reasons.
- The following are the most popular traditional food in Indonesia: 1. Sambal 2. Satay 3. Bakso 4. Soto 5. Nasi Goreng
- The Bau Nyale Fishing Festival. The Bau Nyale Fishing Festival is held every year on the island of Lombok, although the date is changeable and is one of the less well known festivals in Indonesia.
- The Pasola Festival. The Pasola Festival is unique to the Indonesian island of Sumba and is one of the fastest paced and action packed festivals in the archipelago.
- Nyepi. Nyepi is widely known across Indonesia as the ‘Day of Silence’ and is also a public holiday in all parts of the country. This is one of the most famous and important Bali festivals, so it well worth experiencing once if you are in town at the right time.
- Waisak. Waisak is a Buddhist festival in Indonesia as Buddhism is one of the six officially recognized religions in the country. This is one of Indonesia’s main religious celebrations and the festival is held in honor of the birth of the Buddha.
Discover the diverse and rich cultural events and ceremonies in Indonesia, from religious festivals to local traditions. Learn about the dates, locations, and highlights of the top 18 Indonesian festivals, such as Nyepi, Toraja Funeral, Baliem Valley, and more.
May 22, 2021 · Learn about the diverse and rich cultures of Indonesia through its festivals and events. From Sumatra to Kalimantan, discover the unique traditions, rituals, and celebrations of different ethnic groups and religions.
