"I hope that the celebration of Nyepi Day and Eid al-Fitr this year will be an important moment for all of us to strengthen solidarity and our unity as Indonesian people," he said in a statement uploaded to the Vice President's YouTube channel on Sunday.
According to Gibran, these religious holidays are expected to foster community togetherness and maintain harmony amidst the nation's diversity.
He wished Hindus throughout Indonesia a Happy Nyepi Day and Saka New Year 1948, sharing his hope that the commemoration brings peace, wisdom, and renewed enthusiasm for national development.
Meanwhile, he wished Muslims in Indonesia a Happy Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah, praying that blessings and protection would always be bestowed upon the nation.
The vice president noted that this year is particularly special because Chinese New Year coincided with Ramadan, while Nyepi on March 19 falls close to the Eid al-Fitr celebrations in the third week of March.
“This momentum highlights that Indonesia’s diversity is not something to be disputed, but rather a national strength that allows people to coexist in harmony,” he stated.
Gibran added that diversity in beliefs, ethnicities, and traditions is a national identity bound by solidarity, a gift from Almighty God to be cherished by all citizens.
"As citizens of this nation, we must be grateful for and take care of our diversity," he said.
Ahead of the holidays, the government launched an economic stimulus program to facilitate public mobility and maintain purchasing power.
To support the homecoming (mudik) season, the government is offering significant transport discounts from March 14–29, 2026, including 30 percent off train and Pelni sea travel, and 17–18 percent off economy-class flights. Port service fees will also be waived from March 12–31, 2026.
To ease travel congestion, a work-from-anywhere (WFA) scheme will be implemented on March 16–17 and March 25–27, 2026.
Additionally, the government will distribute food assistance, consisting of 10 kilograms of rice and two liters of cooking oil, for two months to 35.04 million beneficiary families.
These policies are designed to help citizens plan their trips flexibly while ensuring that economic and tourism activities remain vibrant and basic necessities stay affordable.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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