Tawur Agung Kesanga and Closing of Prambanan Temple Destination in the Series of Holy Days of Nyepi in the Year of Saka 1947

Hindus in Indonesia will celebrate the Holy Day of Silence in the Saka Year 1947 on March 29, 2025. The theme of the Holy Day of Silence in the Saka Year 1947 is Manawa Sewa Madhawa Sewa Realizing a Golden Indonesia 2045 "Harmonization in Religious Moderation in the Technological Era". The Holy Day of Silence is a form of human self-harmony with the universe that has given so much life.

The General Chairperson of the National Committee for the Celebration of the Holy Day of Nyepi, Saka New Year 1947, Gede Narayana, said that the implementation of Nyepi in 2025 consists of 14 activities consisting of various series with the peak event being the National Dharmasanti which will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Ahmad Yani Sports Hall, TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta.

"The Nyepi celebration which is carried out with various series of activities by the Committee is interpreted not only as a religious ritual and spiritual enhancement but also a momentum for self-reflection and harmony with nature and others," explained Gede Narayana.

The series of Nyepi Day Ceremonies for the Saka Year 1947 consists of various activities, including Matur Piuning (January 14, 2025), Melasti Ngobaran (March 14, 2025), Saka Yoga (March 16, 2025), Makerti Ayu Ning Segara (March 22, 2025), Melasti Parangkusumo (March 23, 2025), Atur Piuning and Mendak Tirta Tuk Pitu (March 27, 2025), Tawur Agung Kesanga (March 28, 2025), Pangrupukan (March 28, 2025), Catur Brata Penyepian (March 29, 2025), Ngembak Geni (March 30, 2025), Cultural Parade (April 17, 2025) and Dharma Santi (April 19, 2025).

Wisnu Bawa Tenaya, Chairman of the Indonesian Hindu Dharma Council (PHDI), explained that Nyepi Day is a reminder to oneself to practice good deeds for the universe. This harmony between humans and nature is demonstrated through activities such as Makerti Ayuning Segara (beach cleanups) and Wana Kerti (Mountain Cleanup) as symbols of maintaining natural balance and harmony between humans and their environment.

"The meaning of Nyepi Day is a moment of self-reflection, in the sense of introspection ( mulat sarira ) on what has been done during the past year. The path of reflection is through the Catur Brata Penyepian: amati geni (not lighting fires), amati karya (not working), amati lelanguan (not having fun), and amati lelungan (not traveling)," explained Wisnu Bawa Tenaya, Chairman of the Central Indonesian Hindu Dharma Council (PHDI).

The Great Tawur and the Ogoh-Ogoh Parade

Prambanan Temple as a UNESCO World Heritage area with Hindu characteristics, also became the location for the Nyepi Holy Day series. Some of the agendas carried out here include the Saka Yoga Festival, Matur Piuning, and Tawur Agung Kesanga.

Meanwhile, PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko or InJourney Destinations will close the Prambanan Temple Tourism Park destination for tourists as a form of respect for Hindus in commemorating the Holy Day of Nyepi this time.

The celebration of the Great Tawur Kesanga Saka 1947 at the Prambanan Temple Tourism Park is a collaboration between the Prambanan Temple Utilization Working Team of the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Hindu Community Guidance (Bimas) of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion, the Cultural Preservation Center (BPK) Region X, the Hindu Bimas of the Ministry of Religion Office of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, the Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) and PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko.

The Head of the DIY Nyepi Committee for the 1947 Saka Year, Nyoman Gunarsa, said that the Tawur Agung Kesanga ceremony will be held at the Prambanan Temple Tourism Park on Friday, March 28, 2025. The ceremony, which was held by the 2025 Nyepi Committee and the Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, was attended by thousands of Hindus from various regions, including the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Central Java, Jakarta, Bali and others.

Tawur Agung Kesanga reflects the harmony between humans, nature, and the gods. The ritual begins with the mendhak tirta and pradaksina ceremony in the courtyard of Prambanan Temple. After that, the group of worshippers follow a series of ceremonies with traditional art performances. 

The Tawur Agung Kesanga Saka 1947 will be enlivened by a lively Ogoh-Ogoh Parade from various Hindu communities in DI Yogyakarta and Central Java. The Ogoh-Ogoh Parade is enlivened by 12 Ogoh-Ogoh of various shapes that will pass from the Tawur Agung area located south of Prambanan Temple to the Brahma field located north of Prambanan Temple.

The Ogoh-Ogoh Parade will be enlivened by baleganjur music performances and also penjor decorations that adorn the Prambanan Temple Tourism Park destination. Tourists can also interact directly or lift Ogoh-Ogoh with the congregation during the parade.

President Director of PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko Febrina Intan said that this activity is full of arts and cultural activities that can be enjoyed by all parties, not only for Hindus alone, but also for visitors who want to witness spiritual traditions based on universal values.

"Prambanan Temple welcomes all parties to witness, participate and give meaning to the series of Nyepi Holy Day. Through this momentum, may Prambanan Temple become a source of universal values ​​that are full of religious values, art, culture, and tradition that enrich the national treasure," explained Febrina Intan, Thursday (13/3/2025).

The public can witness the series of Tawur Agung Kesanga processions and the Ogoh-Ogoh Parade by coming to the Prambanan Temple Tourism Park destination on March 28, 2025. The Tawur Agung activity will take place from 06.00–12.00 WIB. Meanwhile, the Ogoh-Ogoh Parade takes place from 13.00–15.00 WIB.

"The Tawur Agung celebration is an activity that can be followed by various parties to experience a special authentic experience. At this moment, visitors can see the richness of the great cultural arts that bring the World Cultural Heritage to life. A celebration that is a charming presentation for those who like to explore Indonesian culture," he explained.

Closing of Prambanan Temple

PT TWC closed the operational of the Prambanan Temple Tourism Park destination during the Nyepi Holy Day 1946. This operational closure was carried out on March 29, 2025 starting at 06.00 WIB until 24.00 WIB. In addition, the TWC Prambanan destination will have a power outage from 06.00 WIB on March 29, 2025 until 06.00 WIB on March 30, 2025. During the closure of the destination, the Prambanan Temple Tourism Park area was guarded by bregada soldiers and Turangga troops, namely mounted police troops from the Yogyakarta Regional Police.

This routine activity is a form of respect and instills a sense of togetherness and deep attachment to Hindus throughout Indonesia who are carrying out the Catur Brata Penyepian. 

"Although it has started to enter the Eid moment and there has been an increase in visits, we are still closing the Prambanan Temple Tourism Park destination. This is a form of our commitment to respecting and preserving the Prambanan Temple World Cultural Heritage site which is also respected as a holy site for Hindus in Indonesia and the world," explained Febrina Intan.

Prambanan in Silence presents a silent atmosphere in the World Heritage area. This is in accordance with the rules of Catur (Brata) Penyepian, namely amati karya (not working), amati lelungan (not traveling), amati geni (not lighting fires), and amati lelanguan (not having fun). 

"The universal meaning of Catur Brata Penyepian is about introspection and cultivating harmonious behavior with nature and the surrounding environment. This teaches the essence of wisdom values ​​and fosters love for the surrounding nature," concluded Febrina Intan.