Banjarbaru Dismissed Tanglong Festival in Ramadan

Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (Antaranews) - "Tanglong and Bagarakan Sahur" festival ‎which became an annual event held each month of Ramadan abolished by the Banjarbaru City Government start of Ramadan 1435 Hijri. 

Mayor Ruzaidin Noor here on Monday said the decision to scrap the festival, which became an icon of tourism of Banjarbaru, based on the input of many parties, especially the religious leaders. 

Religious leaders and community leaders asked for activities, which normally undertaken on 21st Ramadan evening or night of "Salikur" brings a lot of harm than good. 

Bagarakan Sahur is a traditional activity to wake people for a pre-dawn meal or suhoor to fasting. While tanglong is lentern or lampion.

"The Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI) and religious leaders requested the activity to be abolished, because it interferes the sanctity and a khusyu of a holy month of Ramadan, so we responded and decided to eliminate it," he said. 

He admittedly, many events in implementation of a festival, that has lasted 13 years, can not be anticipated to the detriment of both the community and the city government. Among them, the action of firecrackers, fireworks and other noises that just bother others. 

"Something good must be approved especially for the good conveyed by religious leaders, so as the regional head to decide the implementation of of the festival abolished from 2014 onwards," he said. 

In lieu of activities, the city government is ready to give permission if the activities are carried out not unsettle the holy month of Ramadan especially not to disturb conducive situation that has been created.