Social Documentary Photography – Religion In Indonesia
SEMARANG-INDONESIA, September 24, 2015. Thousands of Indonesian Muslims queue to get a share of the sacrificial meat during celebrations of Eid al-Adha at Kauman Mosque, Semarang City. The committee distributed 6,800 packages of sacrificial meat to the residents. Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid Al-Adha, to commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son as a sign of his obedience to God. Permissible animals such as goats, sheep, and cows are sacrificed.
Independent Documentary Photographer and Freelance Photojournalist Aji Styawan is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this social documentary photography . These images are part of his Editorial Work. To see Aji’s portfolio, projects and photographs click on any image.
MAGELANG-INDONESIA. December 25th 2015. One of the priests from the Church of Santo Paulus spread the holy water to the villagers on the bridge. Hundreds of Catholic villagers whom live on the slopes of the mountain of Merapi gathered on Kalilamat bridge, Ngargomulyo village, District of Magelang Central Java, Indonesia, for held Christmas Mass. Most of the people are farmers and bring their harvest this year as the symbol to the thankful and preserving nature on the slopes of Mount Merapi.
HARJOSARI-INDONESIA. January 14th, 2016. Hundreds of Catholic villagers in Harjosari Village, Semarang District, Central Java, Indonesia gather at the ST Maria Assumpta Church to hold a torch cross parade and mass pray. This is an annual event for praying at the beginning of 2016. At this event they bring candles as a symbol of grief to pray together and give sympathy for the victims of terror attacks which happened in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. The villagers pray and hope Indonesia will be more peaceful in the beginning of the year with no more terror attacks.
KOPENG-INDONESIA. November 29th, 2015. Villagers watching the parade inside their home. Javanese people gather to hold a thanksgiving called “Saparan” to say thanks to God as their massive harvest this year at Kopeng village, District of Semarang Central Java Indonesia. By bringing the symbol of a mountain full of food and crops they parade around the village with typical costumes and perform a traditional dance.
KLATEN-INDONESIA, October 22 2015. One by one villagers coming to the sacred place for praying and bringing offerings such as various kinds of flowers where their holy ancestors named “Mbok Roro Tanjungsari” and “Mbok Roro Payung Gilap”. Praying to God at this location since the 18th Century. Tanjungsari villagers hold an annual tradition called “Bersih Desa” to Commemorate 10th of Muharram (Islamic Calendar) believed to be a sacred day for Javanese Muslim people.
BAWEN-INDONESIA, April 11, 2015. Christian children hold a torch cross procession on Glodogan Village, Bawen sub-district, Central Java-Indonesia. The torch crosses are paraded in front of the church of Santa Maria Asumpta to a place of prayer and meditation Kendalisodo Hills. Torch Procession of the Cross is one of celebrations in the district Glodogan to unify the local culture with religion a week after Easter.
TEMANGGUNG-INDONESIA, October 24th, 2015. Javanese Muslim people gathered to hold “Sadran Desa” and to commemorate the holy month of “Muharram” or “Suro” at Tlogopucang Village, District of Temanggung Central Java, Indonesia. Villagers bring the bamboo buckets full of food called “Tenong” as the result of their crops of the year harvested from the sacred hills. They also pray together and thank God for blessings in their life.