Life in harmony Larantuka

There is beautiful scenery during Good Friday procession in Larantuka, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, on Friday night (22/04/2011). Some youth with a cap and cap join maintain order at the time of peak Semana Santa procession, the holy week of Easter celebrations in Larantuka.

They are the Great Mosque Youth Aswada East Flores regency. There are about 10 young men who go down that night. They are members of the Great Mosque, Village Eka Sapta, Larantuka.

The tradition here is very high level of religious tolerance. If they (Catholics) any event, we come to assist. And conversely, if we are religious activities, they would come help," said Noor Siru, one member of the Youth of the Great Mosque Aswada come down to keep traffic on Church Cathedral congregation. They served a posse in front of the church.
"We maintain that there are no people in or not menyelonong breakthrough. So let orderly," he explained.

These young men on average have five years to help in church activities. Moreover, during the celebration of Semana Santa. Therefore, according to Noor them already familiar with these rituals. "I do not know from when this tradition. But it's been handed down from generation to generation. From the beginning, Islam has a role in Larantuka," said Noor.

Last year, during Semana Santa celebrations of the 500 years, young people helped. Even the Imam Mosque attended. "Conversely, too. When the construction of mosques, from laying the first stone until now, Catholics continue to help youth help. Mr. Bishop to come down immediately, present at the laying of a cornerstone," the story of Noor.
He said in Larantuka, Bergama residents Islam and Catholicism for centuries lived together in harmony and always harmonious. "We feel we are in a protective womb Larantuka city. The land of birth. Here the average was mixed because of marriage. So you definitely have a different religion. So there can be no fights or inter-religious enemies," he said. For example, one Muslim youth said he had a Catholic grandmother and cousin.
Meanwhile, Don King Larantuka Kompas.com Tinus told that Muslims in Larantuka already passed a long history. In the 16th century, King Larantuka raised seven tribes of Islam as a relative of the King for having helped the King in rebellion against the small kings. In return, the King gave them a place to settle.

"In the past, this time they take the cake or cake bolo kekera hair, cake bowsprit, and cake flowers rocking. The cakes escorted by Muslim families and taken to 8 Armida (Good Friday procession stops). Sometimes they also give candles . They also joined the procession at the end, "the story of Don.

Unfortunately, 19th century, this ritual began to disappear. Therefore, it plans to revive the ritual in celebration of 100 years of the seven Muslim tribes settled in the place given the King. "To keep the tradition of history and the Catholic-Islamic kinship can be celebrated. We are trying to develop again the tradition of inter-faith among the youth," he said.
Semana Santa is the holy week that starts from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. Ritual peak during Good Friday. Semana Santa is a Catholic celebration of community characteristic Larantuka, East Flores, NTT.
This ritual has been going on for 500 years and is a ritual of Portuguese heritage. All the traditions, ornaments, and equipment used in the implementation of the Good Friday procession is a Portuguese heritage. Even for the prayers and hymns using the Portuguese language.