The Jakarta Environment Agency is conducting a city-wide cleanup of Chinese and Buddhist temples (klenteng and vihara) to welcome the Lunar New Year 2026, which falls this Tuesday (2/17).

Personnel from the sub-agency's regional offices across five administrative cities, the Water Body Waste Management Unit, and sub-district sanitation teams have been deployed to ensure houses of worship are spotless and comfortable for worshippers.

The cleanup operation, underway since Wednesday (2/11), covers both interior and exterior areas, including courtyards, drainage systems, and other supporting facilities.

Jakarta Environment Agency Head, Asep Kuswanto said, this initiative reflects our collective care and serves as a catalyst to bolster the spirit of gotong royong (mutual cooperation) among Jakartans. He noted, the cleanup is far more than a routine sanitation task; it is a means to foster social harmony.

“We want to ensure all temples and their surroundings are ready for worshippers to celebrate a solemn and comfortable Lunar New Year. More importantly, this is a pivotal moment to reinforce the values of cooperation and interfaith tolerance in Jakarta,” he stated, Monday (2/16).

He further explained that the Environment Agency is providing specialized handling for electronic waste (e-waste) and bulky waste to ensure environmentally sound management. He emphasized that public participation remains the linchpin of this initiative's success.

Asep added that the Jakarta government is committed to maintaining clean and comfortable houses of worship as part of its vision for an inclusive, harmonious, and sustainable city.

“Hopefully, this year’s Lunar New Year atmosphere feels warmer, cleaner, and filled with a sense of unity. May this initiative foster a lasting collective awareness to care for our environment daily, not just during festivities,” he concluded.