Dazzling lights illuminate Indonesian city of Solo for Ramadan

Streets of the historic Javanese city glow with vibrant lanterns as annual festival blends tradition, culture, and community celebrations during the holy month

SOLO, Indonesia (MNTV) – The Indonesian city of Solo, also known as Surakarta, is glowing with vibrant lanterns and dazzling light installations as it hosts the annual Ramadan Light Festival.

Running until the end of Ramadan, the festival has become a major attraction, drawing residents and visitors to the heart of the city on the island of Java.

Since its inauguration in 2022, the festival has been a highlight of Ramadan in Solo. The event takes place around Surakarta City Hall and along the main streets, where intricate light displays illuminate the cityscape.

The lights were switched on March 1 to mark the beginning of the fasting month in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.

In addition to the mesmerizing installations, the festival features a bustling night market, where vendors offer traditional food and local products after sundown.

“We organized this festival to celebrate Ramadan by decorating the city with lights and bringing variety to Surakarta,” said Aloisius Satmaka Nugraha, head of the tourism and creative economy department.

Solo, known for its deep-rooted Javanese heritage, was once the capital of the Mataram Sultanate, the last major independent Islamic kingdom in Java before Dutch colonization.

Today, the city blends tradition with modern celebrations, as the Ramadan Light Festival continues to attract large crowds, with visitors sharing striking images of the illuminated streets on social media.