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Sat, 25 Jan 2025
JIMBARAN – The basketball court of Widiatmika School transformed into a festive arena on Friday, January 24, 2025, as hundreds of students, teachers, staff, and parents gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year. This event was not only a joyful occasion but also an educational platform to instill the values of tolerance and cultural diversity among the students of Widiatmika Elementary School.
In a vibrant atmosphere, participants dressed in Lunar New Year-themed costumes dominated by red and gold colors. The highlight of the celebration was the captivating Barongsai (Lion Dance) performance, which drew enthusiastic cheers from the students. They eagerly prepared red envelopes (angpao) to give to the performers as symbols of blessings, happiness, and prosperity.
According to Widiatmika Elementary School’s Vice Principal for Public Relations, Ni Wayan Sucitrawati, the celebration aimed to introduce students to Indonesia’s rich cultural diversity.
“Through events like this, we hope to instill an understanding that the traditions and cultures around us should be preserved and celebrated,” she explained.
Although there was no formal session dedicated to explaining Lunar New Year traditions, Sucitrawati emphasized that the celebration itself served as a meaningful learning experience. Children were encouraged to respect different cultures through direct engagement rather than classroom theories.
“Watching the Barongsai performance and giving angpao is a simple yet effective way to teach tolerance through meaningful experiences,” she added.
Cultural diversity was the core message conveyed during the event. As an educational institution that emphasizes character development, Widiatmika Elementary School consistently organizes similar activities to broaden students’ knowledge of Indonesia’s various traditions and to foster their appreciation of living harmoniously in diversity.
“We hope that students not only learn about traditions but also understand the importance of embracing diversity as part of daily life. By directly participating in these events, they will better appreciate the need to preserve traditions and embrace differences,” Sucitrawati concluded.
The Lunar New Year celebration at Widiatmika Elementary School stands as a testament that teaching tolerance can start from a young age. Through enjoyable and meaningful activities like this, the younger generation is expected to grow into individuals who respect Indonesia’s cultural diversity and contribute to maintaining harmony in society.
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