January Festivals
New Years Eve/Day: mainly celebrated by the expatriate and the Christian communities.
Idul Adha: celebrated by the Muslim community, it is a reminder of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son. February Festivals
Imlek: is the Chinese New Year and one of the biggest celebrations within the Chinese community. Famous dragon and lion dances can be seen throughout many of the islands and Chinese businesses are usually closed for about three to seven days.
Islamic New Year: celebrated by Muslims to commemorate the day that Prophet Muhammad left Mecca to found a new city in Medina. April Festivals
Nyepi: is the Hindu New Year. Traditionally, it is a day for meditating and people should not speak or move. However, it is not taken quite so literally today and in the major cities, life carries on but in a more subdued manner. In Bali, the airport, shops and restaurants are all closed for the day. It is very politely suggested that tourists remain within the hotels compounds and make as little noise as possible.
Maulid Nabi: is Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday. May Festivals
Wesak Day: a Buddhist festival that celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha. Buddhists generally gather at the Borobodur Temple in Yogyakarta for the biggest celebrations where there are processions and songs. July Festivals
Bali Arts Festival: this festival lasts for about one month and has many demonstrations of traditional dance, song and handicrafts. Traditional games, competitions and parades are held.
Danau Toba: celebrated in Sumatra with canoe races and traditional Sumatran dances and songs from the region. August Festivals
National Day: is celebrated on 17 August when Sukarno declared independence. There are parades, marches, cultural dances, fireworks and many other events throughout the day.
Jayapura Cultural Festival: is held in Papua with demonstrations of cultural dances, traditional songs, handicraft display as well as traditional games and competitions. October Festivals
Ramadan: is the beginning of the fasting period for Muslims.
November Festivals
Idul Fitri: a very important celebration within the Muslim community. Muslims begin the day by attending special services at the mosques. Friends and relatives are invited for meals serving specially cooked dishes. Gerebeg Syawal Ceremony: held in Yogyakarta, this is a colourful and grand celebration with processions of the Palace Guards and other officials who are dressed in ceremonial attire or traditional costumes. Large floats decorated with coloured rice form part of the procession that makes its way to the mosque.
December Festivals
Christmas: is celebrated in a similar way to many western countries. It is a public holiday. | 
