Pray for AirAsia Victims, No Large NYE Festivities in Jakarta

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Jakarta Night Festival (JNF) is an event by Jakarta Government held annually as the new year approaches. The event will be take place at Monumen Nasional (Monas) where stages for performers will be provided at each side surrounding the monument. Although the willingness to cheer Jakarta people is the Jakarta Vice Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat main priority, he still encourages people to obey the curfew and not to over- partied as the year changes.

"So, no large-scale festivities. We hope that people can understand this," Djarot said on Wednesday (31/12/2014).

He thinks that, in respecting the victims of AirAsia QZ 8501 as well as their families aroud Pangkalan Bun and Karimata Strait, the Jakarta people should prefer sending out prayers and end the year decently with their loved ones. There are other tragedies that occur prior to NYE, these include landslide in Banjanegara, heavy flood in Bandung and conflagration at Pasar Klewer, Solo. So, is it humane to party while the families mourn to the lost souls?

"Indonesia is currently in grief. So, common prayers should be made so that the year 2015 we will be protected from any unwanted tragedies. For each stage, there will be a praying session together apart from the entertainment provided. Securities are on standby in case of emergency.Everyone who comes should assure their own safety as well," Djarot said.

At the Jakarta Night Festival, Jakarta Government has facilitated 9 stages for various performances. Each stage will provide traditional music performance, dangdut, jazz, rock and reggae. Many artists will be colouring the night towards the end of the 2014.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or AHok and his vice Djarot Saiful Hidayat are scheduled to attend this event. Both figures will be celebrating the change of year with the event attendees.

They both will depart from the Governor’s office at Taman Suropati and head to the main stage at HI. Afterwards, they will greet the people on each stage along Jalan MH Thamrin until the last one at Silang Barat near the horse statue. Both of them will perform a countdown as they go.