Customs and Culture of Indonesia

Before embarking on a trip to Indonesia, it will be helpful to browse through some information on Indonesian etiquette, so that you do not hurt the sensibilities of the people, even by mistake, while on a trip there. Further more learning about the Indonesian Etiquette will help you blend in better with the locals and even surprise your host with some pleasant gestures. Like any other place in the world, when visiting Indonesia, visitors should observe the local customs and practices. The country is a melting pot for more than 350 ethnic groups, the majority of whom are of Malay ancestry. Indonesians are very traditional. They consider politeness and courtesy as important values, and discourage public displays of emotion. That doesn't mean that they are inflexible and stiff. In fact, they are very tolerant with foreigners' mistakes and always treat visitors with respect. Islam is the dominant religion in the country and the constitution advocates freedom of religion and those of other faiths are given deference. Indonesians are known as friendliest people in the world towards foreigners and most tolerant towards their manners. But there are few things, which are not done in Indonesia. They consider the head as something sacred that must be respected. Patting on the head is not done among adults. Calling someone by crooking the index finger is considered impolite and giving or receiving things with the left hand is not acceptable. The handshake accompanied with a smile is common among men and women greeting or welcoming somebody. Not less 9 million people live in Jakarta representing nearly all the ethnic groups in the archipelago. The native community is Orang Betawi (people of Betawi). The other large groups are the Minangkabau people, the Bataks, the Manadonase, and the other people from Sulawesi and the Ambonase.  The majority follow Islam. But it does not mean that Indonesia is an Islamic state. It is a Pancasila state. And one of the principles of Pancasila, the state ideology, is "belief in the one Supreme God". This means that the various belief systems must be respected and respect each other. This explains the ubiquitous Moslem prayer houses in the city beside many churches and a few temples.

 

 

Betawi Culture

Betawi is one of the most special cultures of Jakarta. Betwai culture is composed of a unique blend of the Dutch, Chinese, Portuguese and Arabs leading to the fact that the Betawi culture is indeed very colourful. Orang Betawi emerged in the 19th century from a melting pot of races, ethnic groups and cultures. They have their own culture distinct from other ethnics' cultures. In 1923 they founded an organization called Kaum Betawi, which was in fact a statement about the existence of the Betawi ethnic group.The Betawi has its origin from the old name of Dutch capital during its administration, Batavia. You will witness the influence of Betawi’s culture across the whole city. One can visit the Jakarta pavilion at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah which has long been showing Betawi ceremonies such as the Betawi wedding ceremony, the circumcision procession, the baby head - shaving ceremony etc. Today the Betawi group is well integrated in the life of the city but one can discern the various influences of other cultures by looking or listening to its art form.

 

Unity in Diversity

Indonesia is a hugely diverse nation. It is made up of over 17,500 islands (6,000 of which are inhabited) which are home to over 300 ethnic groups. Each province has its own language, ethnic make-up, religions and history. The country is home for nearly 500 languages. Most people will define themselves locally before nationally. In addition there are many cultural influences stemming back from difference in heritage. Indonesians are a mix of Chinese, European, Indian, and Malay. Although Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world it also has a large number of  Christian Protestants, Catholics, Hindus and Buddhists. This great diversity has needed a great deal of attention from the government to maintain a cohesion. As a result the national motto is  "Unity in Diversity", the language has been standardised and a national philosophy has been devised known as "Pancasila" which stresses universal justice for all Indonesians. Due to the diverse nature of Indonesian society there exists a strong pull towards the group, whether family, village or island. People will define themselves according to their ethnic group, family and place of birth. The family is still very traditional in structure. Family members have clearly defined roles and a great sense of interdependence.

 

Hierarchy

As with most group orientated cultures, hierarchy plays a great role in Indonesian culture. Hierarchical relationships are respected, emphasised and maintained. Respect is usually shown to those with status, power, position and age. This can be seen in both the village and the office where the most senior is expected to make group decisions. Superiors are often called "bapak" or "ibu", which means the equivalent of father or mother, sir or madam. Although those higher up the hierarchy make decisions, Indonesians are advocates of group discussion and consensus. This ties back to the idea of maintaining strong group cohesiveness and harmonious relationships.

 

Concept of Face

Due to the need to maintain group harmony the concept of 'face' is important to understand. In Indonesia the concept is about avoiding the cause of shame ("malu"). Consequently, people are very careful how they interact and speak. Although a foreigner can not be expected to understand the nuances of the concept it is crucial to keep an eye on ones behaviour. One should never ridicule, shout at or offend anyone. Imperfections should always be hidden and addressed privately. Similarly blame should never be aimed at any individual/group publicly. One manifestation of the concept of face/shame is that Indonesians communicate quite indirectly, i.e. they would never wish to cause anyone shame by giving them a negative answer so would phrase it a way where you would be expected to realise what they truly want to say. Bahasa Indonesian actually has 12 ways of saying "No" and several other ways of saying "Yes" when the actual meaning is "No".

 

Here are some general cultural norms:

1. Greetings can be rather formal as they are meant to show respect. A handshake is the most common greeting accompanied with the word "Selamat". Many Indonesians may give a slight bow or place their hands on their heart after shaking your hand.

2. Gift giving etiquette in Indonesia heavily depends on the ethnicity of the receiver. You cannot gift alcohol to a Malay / Muslim or Indian. Gifts are never opened when received. Gifts are given with the right hand only. The Chinese expect an elaborate wrapping, gold and red is considered auspicious. Items that cannot be given to Chinese are cutting utensils, including scissors and knives.

3. It is considered polite to call before visiting a home. Unannounced visits are not expected. Always remove your shoes before entering someone’s home. It is a common practice to offer drinks to guests, so if offered it is polite to accept.

4. If you are invited to someone’s home, wait to be told where you can sit. Wait to be invited to eat before you start. Food is often taken from a shared dish in the middle. You will be served the food and it would not be considered rude if you helped yourself after that. A fork and spoon are often the only utensils at the place setting. Depending on the situation some people may use their hands. Eat or pass food with your right hand only. In formal situations, men are served before women.