Peaceful celebrations observed during Imlek

JAKARTA. The celebrations for the Chinese New Year, locally known as Imlek, passed of peacefully on Monday, with various festivities attracting both well-wishers and vacationers.

Several entertainment spots saw increased numbers of visitors during the Chinese New Year holiday. The Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) in Jakarta reported around 30,000 visitors, double its usual 15,000.

TMII operational director Ade Meliala said that the sunny day on Monday encouraged people to go outside and enjoy the holiday. TMII prepared several events to celebrate Imlek, including a parade of lion dances.

Ragunan Zoo also hosted increased numbers of visitors during Imlek holiday, up to 100,000 on Sunday, spokesperson Wahyudi Bambang said.

Ancol, another entertainment park in North Jakarta, prepared a giant dragon lantern and a series of events for this year’s holiday.

Most businesses in Batam, Riau, have been closed for the holiday since Saturday and would resume activities today. Riau Deputy Governor Soeryo Respationo officiated the Imlek celebration on Batam Island, inaugurating the water dragon statue in the Nagoya shopping center to mark the start of the year.

“The year of the water dragon will bring fortune and welfare ... even the prophecy of Joyoboyo (Javanese ancient prophet) says the year is encrusted with gold,” he said.

Batam Mayor Ahmad Dahlan said that Chinese-Indonesians played an important role in the city’s economy with their pioneering businesses as the island developed into the country’s industrial zone.

The North Sumatran capital of Medan was quiet as its business centers closed for the holiday and the Chinese-Indonesians spent the day at home gathering for Imlek.

North Sumatra Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Heru Prakoso said that the festivities went peacefully in the province. The police deployed 1,350 personnel to guard 411 places of worship during the holiday.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi, the celebration turned tragic for the family of 7-year-old Yefling. The little girl was rushed to the hospital after a defective firecracker in Kwan Kong Temple exploded toward the visitors. She received burns on her head, while another woman, Liani Candra, suffered burns to her leg.

People of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, gathered at the Pao Hwa Kong Temple in Ampenan Old Town, to pray and to distribute ang pao (gifts of money in red envelopes) to locals who had been waiting outside.

“The temple has long become a universal entity for the community … regardless of their religion, people come to the temple to pray,” said the temple manager, Mangku Nengah Mudra. The temple, he said, was built in 1884, making it one of the oldest temples in the country.

In Semarang, the highlight of Imlek celebrations was the Festival Imlek Semawis held from Friday to Sunday, which attracted thousands of visitors. During the festival, visitors enjoyed seasonal cuisine, a Chinese-influenced Singkawang batik exhibition, traditional Semarang dishes and live traditional Chinese music performances.

The Car Free Day on Sunday in Surakarta turned into an Imlek celebration, with 130 ang pao hung under the pedestrian bridge in Sriwedari for the residents to take by only using a bamboo stick. Mayor Joko Widodo took the first envelope, followed by dozens of teens and children.

The initiator of the event, Mayor Haristanto, said that the Imlek festivities had become a people’s event, not only for Chinese-Indonesians.

“This is what nationalism is about. The people will get to know more about Chinese traditions,” he said.

The Chinese New Year was observed quietly in Yogyakarta, as well-wishers gathered at temples to pray. (lfr)

Panca Nugraha, Ainur Rohmah, Kusumasari Ayuningtyas, Andi Hajramurni, Apriadi Gunawan, Fadli and Slamet Susanto contributed reporting. (The Jakarta Post)