Knitting Brotherhood in the Village of Harmony of Malagusa

Communities in Malagusa village, Sorong, Southwest Papua, believe harmony among religious believers must be maintained. For this reason, they actively make activities involving residents from a number of religions.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

Hundreds of residents took part in the Easter torch relay together to wake residents up for sahur in the Malalagusa Harmony Village, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua, on April 9 2023.

"In God we are brothers, now and forever. Sahur ... Sahur … "

The song sung in the Easter Torch Parade, on Sunday (9/4/2023) early that morning, united with the sahur call for Muslims to have a meal before fasting. This activity was attended by hundreds of residents who lived in Malagusa village, Sorong regency, Southwest Papua, known as Kampung of Harmony.

This torch parade series began at around 2:30 a.m., when around 300 people gathered at two locations of worship, namely Jagat Sari Temple and Buddha Sasana Wihara. They were preparing to march in the parade.

The torch parade is a Christian tradition to welcome Easter in the land of Papua. Every resident holds the torch and walks around the area around the settlement complex. Uniquely, the torch parade in the village of harmony was done not only to welcome Easter. The activity in the village with 400 families is also intended to wake Muslims so as not to forget the sahur meal.

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Not only Christians participated in the torch parade, but residents who are Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist also participated. Their faces looked enthusiastic. Everyone held the torch that illuminated the darkness of the night.

At exactly 3:00 a.m., hundreds of residents who gathered at the two locations began walking around the village of harmony. They walked while singing a song, "In God we are Brothers". The 1-kilometer trip ended at the gate, the entrance to the Kampung of Harmony. After 30 minutes passed, this activity ended with a prayer together.

Marthen Duwith (56), a resident who took part in the Easter Torch Parade, was very enthusiastic and proud to take part in this activity. "I hope the collaboration of Easter activities and ahead of Idul Fitri is not carried out only in the village of harmony. Other areas in Papua or other provinces can implement the same activities," said the man from Maybrat regency.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

Community service activities in the area around the Al Abrar Mosque in the Malalagusa Harmony Village, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua, on April 9 2023.

Community service

In the afternoon around 5:30 p.m., they gathered again at Al Abrar Mushalla for community service. In a spirit of mutual cooperation, they cleaned grass and rubbish around the mushalla.

This community service was done so that Muslims could perform prayers comfortably. The activity was followed by cross-faith residents and ended with prayer and breaking the fast together in the mushalla yard.

"Community service activities accompanying iftar together have become a routine in the village of harmony. This can happen because the feeling of brotherhood among citizens is very strong," said secretary of the Kampung of Harmony Petrus Sugiyono.

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Activities such as the Easter torch parade and the breaking of the fast together use money collected independently. Residents of the Kampung of Harmony voluntarily contribute some money to establish friendship among residents.

Before religious activities take place, residents usually hold a meeting at the Sasana Buddhist Temple and the house of the head of the Kampung of Harmony, Ashar.

Kompas participated in the meeting activities at Ashar's house four days before the Easter Torch Parade. The meeting was held at 9:00 p.m. or after the tarawih prayer.

We want to be involved in every activity to commemorate religious days with a strong sense of solidarity.

In the one-hour meeting, residents submitted various proposals. The meeting was closed with a joint prayer led by a resident from one of the religious representatives.

The meeting was attended by representatives from five religions in the village of harmony to convey their ideas. "We want to be involved in every activity to commemorate religious days with a strong sense of solidarity," said Pande Pusdana, a representative from Hinduism.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

The inscription of the Malagusa Harmony Village in Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua, as the Harmony Awareness Village.

Ashar revealed the discourse of the presence of the Kampung of Harmony in Malagusa Village has emerged since 2012. It was motivated by the presence of the houses of worship for Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism in the village.

The Kampung of Harmony has been inhabited by diverse residents since 1982. Residents have come from various religions, ethnicities and races. Residents with various backgrounds live in an area consisting of two neighborhood communities (RW) and four neighborhood units (RT).

The attitude of tolerance and a sense of brotherhood among residents in the village of harmony received appreciation from the central government. The Religious Affairs Ministry recognized Malagusa Village as a village of harmony on 5 September 2020.

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"Tolerance in the village of harmony is naturally established. This can be seen when all residents visit the homes of those who are celebrating religious holidays regardless of religious differences," Ashar said.

The head of the Islamic Community Guidance Section of the Religious Affairs Ministry of Sorong, Supriyanto, said the village of harmony in Malagusa was the first village which was aware of harmony in the land of Papua. This is because the region meets the requirements for the existence of places of worship for Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.

We hope the inspirational story of the Malagusa Harmony Village can be replicated by all regions in the land of Papua.

He greatly appreciated the involvement of Muslims in the Easter Torch Parade until the breaking of the fast together with other religious communities. It shows Islam is rahmatan lil alamin, namely to manifest peace and affection for humans or nature.

"We hope the inspirational story of the Malagusa Harmony Village can be replicated by all regions in the land of Papua. The Religious Affairs Ministry of Sorong regency itself will disseminate information about the village of harmony to the surrounding areas," said Supriyanto.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.