The Villages of Tolerance
Besides the dim history on the carnage of PKI – Partai Komunis Indonesia (Indonesia Communist Party) in Jembrana regency there is another story of love and tolerance inside. This is on religions in Jembrana where Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant live together in harmony. They have created the villages of tolerance for them selves especially and for Bali generally.
Penjor. flickr.com/photos/kaiconragan/
On this Chritmas Day there are two Christian communities who are celebrating it. They are the Protestant of Abyasari Village and the Catholic of Palasari Village. Albeit they are not Hindu, they celebrate Christmas in Hindu’s way by killing pigs for the Christmas meal two days before the D-day (like the Hindu on Penampahan Galungan). They also make penjor (highly decorated bamboo poles) and using the Hindu traditional clothes (kebaya, belt, and sarong — for women and udeng hat, double sarongs – for men) when going to church.
What kind of attitude it is. Well, it has no meaning to humiliate the Hindu’s tradition but it’s a kind of respect towards the Hindu’s. Combining the tradition as the stereotype of Bali with the Christian’s tradition, they consider that they are one of Bali communities. Well, yes they are.
This appreciation should not be raising some resentment among the Hindu Balinese but it should create a pride since the Hindu Balinese tradition is also preserved by the villagers of Abyasari and Palasari. Fortunately the way of the Palasaris and Abyasaris is welcomed by the Hindu in Jembrana. This proves that they are regarding each other.
The tolerance and friendship among the Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant in the villages of Jembrana must be a model throughout Indonesia and may it can tighten the Indonesian unity.
Merry Christmas!
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