A video circulating on social media shows Pecalang Sakera, a Muslim community group, helping to secure the Galungan prayer activities in Bajera Traditional Village, Selemadeg District, Tabanan, on Wednesday, 19 November.
The footage was shared by the Instagram account @jurnalisrakyat and has drawn public attention for depicting interfaith cooperation during one of Bali’s major religious celebrations.
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Pecalang Sakera are volunteers who provide community security support. The group draws its name from Sakera, also known as Sadiman, a figure in East Javanese folklore.
Historical accounts describe him as an anti-colonial figure in Pasuruan, East Java, known for opposing corruption, collusion, and nepotism on sugarcane plantations and in factories during the Dutch East Indies period in the early nineteenth century.
Sakera was regarded as a martial arts practitioner who resisted colonial authorities in the Bangil area. He was later arrested following internal betrayal and was buried in the Bekacak area of Kolursari Village, Pasuruan.
The involvement of Muslim volunteers in supporting Hindu ceremonies reflects longstanding inter-community cooperation that has shaped daily life in Bali. Local leaders have noted that participation in ceremonial security is based on mutual respect between religious groups, particularly in villages where diverse communities live side by side.
Their presence during Galungan is part of routine community arrangements in several districts.
INTERFAITH GATHERING AT PURI GERENCENG CONTINUES TRADITION
A separate interfaith tradition took place at Puri Gerenceng on Jalan Sutomo, Denpasar, where Muslims from several villages across Denpasar and surrounding regencies visited Hindu residents to extend greetings for Galungan. The gathering has been held for generations and remains an annual practice aimed at strengthening social ties.
As reported by Liputan6, during the visit, Muslim representatives conveyed: “We wish Hindus a Happy Galungan Day.” Local community figures stated that the gathering has continued “for centuries,” serving as a reminder of shared neighbourhood bonds and collective responsibility for maintaining social harmony.
