Jakarta – This year, several major religious celebrations in Indonesia fall close together. Lunar New Year coincided with the start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, while the Hindu Day of Silence, Nyepi, will occur alongside the eve of Idul Fitri, when many Muslims gather for the takbiran celebration.
At first glance, the convergence of such important religious observances might appear to create potential tension; however, in many parts of the country, communities have shown that coexistence and compromise remain possible.
On the Hindu-majority island of Bali, the commemoration of Nyepi, traditionally marked by 24 hours of silence during which residents and visitors refrain from travel, entertainment and most forms of activity, will be slightly adjusted this year to accommodate Idul Fitri eve celebrations. The night before Idul Fitri is usually celebrated with takbiran, a lively tradition involving chants praising God, often accompanied by fireworks and festive processions. These celebrations mark the end of Ramadan, a month devoted to spiritual purification, reflection and strengthening one's relationship with the divine.
This year, however, Muslim communities in Bali have agreed to adapt their celebrations out of respect for their Hindu neighbors. To honor the silence observed during Nyepi, a day devoted to meditation and spiritual renewal, takbiran will be limited to mosque compounds, conducted with dim lighting and concluded earlier in the evening.
This arrangement offers an important lesson: a middle ground can always be found between traditions that may seem to clash but actually share common spiritual values. Respecting others' beliefs does not weaken faith; rather, it strengthens the social fabric and allows a diverse society to live peacefully.
Unfortunately, such harmony does not always define Indonesia's religious landscape, and the spirit of compromise found in Bali is not universally reflected across the archipelago. Incidents of intolerance and violence against religious minorities continue to occur each year. According to the latest report from the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, there were 221 violations of religious freedom in 2025 alone. Of those cases, 128 involved state actors, ranging from local governments issuing discriminatory regulations, to law enforcement authorities whose inaction has fostered a climate of impunity.
Indonesia is the world's largest predominantly Muslim state, which also recognizes five other religions, namely, Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism, and hundreds of indigenous belief systems as part of the nation's spiritual heritage.
Such diversity has long been a defining characteristic of Indonesia, but it also requires constant vigilance to ensure that all citizens enjoy equal protection under the law, regardless of their beliefs.
Recent events show how fragile that protection can be. In July last year, two children were injured when a mob attacked a Christian prayer house where around 30 children were attending a Sunday school class in the Muslim-majority city of Padang, West Sumatra. Several suspects were initially detained but later released after a "peace agreement" was reached between local residents and a migrant Christian community from Nias, North Sumatra. Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar downplayed the incident as a result of "misunderstanding".
The Setara report also noted that no significant breakthrough occurred in 2025, the first full year of President Prabowo Subianto's administration, despite the promotion of religious tolerance being included in his Asta Cita (eight goals). One of the government's most urgent tasks remains revising or revoking the controversial 2006 joint ministerial regulation governing the construction of houses of worship.
The rule requires religious communities to obtain approval from local residents and recommendations from interfaith forums before securing a permit. In practice, these requirements have often been used to block minority groups from building places of worship. Since the regulation took effect, at least 200 churches have reportedly been sealed or denied permits following local opposition.
The example set in Bali this year offers an important reminder: When communities promote mutual respect, coexistence can thrive even amid overlapping traditions. But such harmony cannot rely on grassroots goodwill alone. The state must actively safeguard the pluralism that defines Indonesia.
Unity in diversity is not automatic; it is the state's duty to protect, strengthen and defend it.
Source: https://asianews.network/respect-across-faiths-the-jakarta-post