Luh De Suriyani – Thousands of people took part Monday evening in the Gema Perdamaian (Echo of Peace) at the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Renon, south Denpasar.
Waves of people began flocking to the monument from early dusk, on the southern side of the Puputan Margarana soccer field. The participants hailed from all walks of life, representing a gamut of ethnicities and religions.
A street procession, during which the participants carried a long white banner in a collective peaceful march around the field, highlighted the event held annually to promote peace and remind the world of the importance of non-violent responses.
The participants formed a 500-meter-long line led by a group of children performing the sacred Rejang Dewa dance. The dance is usually performed at the beginning of a Balinese Hinduism temple festival to welcome arriving deities.
Following the children dancers was a group of participants tasked with carrying the banner symbolizing purity and peace. The group comprised representatives of different religious communities, including the Hare Krishna, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists.
Behind them was a group of religious leaders who recited prayers and verses from their respective holy books. Bringing up the rear of the procession was a group of youths who carried a statue of the Garuda Pancasila, the official emblem of the country, and the Red-and-White flag of the Republic.
As the Hare Krishna followers chanted their devotional songs, the Balinese youths sounded their Bleganjur gamelan ensemble in chorus, providing the march with an inspiring audio accompaniment brimming with joy and energy.
"We want to show religious tolerance and harmony through this event," said Supriyono, founder of the Bali branch of Paguyuban Ngeksigondo, which focuses on the preservation and development of Javanese cultural and spiritual heritage. Its members participated in the march dressed in traditional Javanese dress.
Bali administration secretary I Wayan Yasa said his office would always support any initiatives aimed at developing a strong and committed multicultural society.
"This island is home to people from various ethnicities and religions," he said. "We want to keep sustaining and nurturing tolerance and harmony."
Separately, Gema Perdamaian organizing committee head I Nyoman Baskara warned participants of the "seeds of social distrust and conflict" that had long existed in Bali.
"There is a growing gap between the haves and the have-nots; the farmers lose their land, villages are locked in dispute over territories," he said.