Lunar New Year Festivities in Surakarta: Heritage in Harmony

RRI.CO.ID, Surakarta - Lunar New Year celebrations across Indonesia highlight the country’s diverse cultural identities, with Surakarta, Central Java, standing out through its renowned Grebeg Sudiro festival. From February 5 to 21, 2026, the Pasar Gedhé Hardjonagoro area transformed into a vibrant hub of tourism, culture, and interfaith harmony.

For three consecutive years, Grebeg Sudiro has been selected as part of the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism. This year’s theme, “Heritage in Harmony”, reflects the festival’s evolution from a local tradition into a world-class urban celebration.

Since its inception in 2008, organizers have emphasized diversity as an authentic tourism commodity with global appeal. Thousands of lanterns illuminated Sudiroprajan Village, welcoming the Lunar New Year 2577 Kongzili.

The Chinese community officially ushered in the Year of the Fire Horse on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, marking the transition from the Year of the Wood Snake. By late afternoon, Pasar Gedhé was already crowded with visitors from across the archipelago.

At the historic Tien Kok Sie Temple, solemn rituals began early in the morning. The temple, officially recognized as Vihara Alokiteswara during Abdurrahman Wahid’s presidency, serves as a shared place of worship for Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist communities. Established in 1745, it remains the oldest temple in Surakarta, or Solo as the city is more popularly called.

Hundreds of ritual candles, ranging from small pillars to towering structures, were lit, symbolizing hopes for prosperity. They believe, the larger the candles, the bigger the fortune they expect to receive. Worshippers come from as far as Yogyakarta, Semarang, Jakarta, and Bandar Lampung.

The Macan Putih Sudiroprajan troupe captivated audiences with energetic lion dance performances. Led by mentor Yanuar Sri Hartono, the group consists of 45 local performers who train twice weekly. Remarkably, all members are of Javanese descent, underscoring Surakarta’s unique cultural blend.

“Our players are all from Surakarta, especially Sudiroprajan residents,” Yanuar explained. “What makes Macan Putih unique is that 100 percent of our lion dance performers are Javanese, preserving Chinese arts while inspiring ethnic collaboration.”

This year, the troupe deployed four lions and one dragon, performing at both the temple and Pasar Gedhé. In Chinese tradition, the lion is seen as a divine messenger, bringing blessings, warding off evil, and ensuring a bountiful harvest.

Beyond rituals and performances, food stalls offered affordable culinary delights, drawing crowds of both locals and tourists.

Another highlight is the Kali Pepe tourist boats, operated by the Sudiroprajan Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis). These decorated vessels, available only during Grebeg Sudiro under the Pasar Gede bridge, provided scenic river tours under glowing lanterns.

Local organizer Uning explained that the 1.5 km route runs along the Pepe River, with three boats carrying 6-7 passengers each. The route starts at the dock under the Pasar Gede bridge, heading east or south, turning back near the Ketandan bridge or Loji Wetan suspension bridge, to return to the starting dock.

On clear evenings, up to 500 tickets can be sold, starting from 5:30 p.m. local time.

Visitors like Vika and Widia from Yogyakarta discovered the attraction through TikTok. “We were interested in Grebeg Sudiro because it’s seasonal and not available in Yogyakarta,” Vika said. “The vibes and decorations here are special. We wanted to enjoy the Lunar New Year atmosphere before celebrations begin back home.” ***