Cinese New Year passes quietly<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Following Governor Sutiyoso's appeal, families
\nof Chinese descent in the city celebrated their New Year quietly
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
A feeling of silence blanketed downtown Glodok, the city's
\nChinatown in West Jakarta which is a favorite place to buy
\nelectronic goods.<\/p>\n
Most shops in the area were closed, leaving the streets --
\nwhich are normally crowded -- almost deserted.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 12, the governor issued an appeal which stated that
\nChinese New Year (Imlek) celebrations should be celebrated
\nprivately with families or at houses of worship.<\/p>\n
The appeal also stated that the Chinese New Year was not a
\nBuddhist holiday, and was therefore not to be celebrated at
\nBuddhist temples.<\/p>\n
Restrictions on Imlek celebrations have been common since the
\nearly 1960s.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, for example, there were no special events or
\nChinese ornaments to be seen in Glodok.<\/p>\n
On some streets there were only a few vendors offering Chinese
\nornaments for the celebration and a small number of adults and
\nchildren in new dresses and traditional red gowns.<\/p>\n
Dozens of families had lunch together in restaurants.<\/p>\n
The Dharma Sakti Buddhist temple in Glodok was crowded.<\/p>\n
Melina, a high school student who had just finished praying at
\nthe temple, said: \"After performing this prayer, my family and I
\nwill eat lunch together and later wait for relatives to come by.
\nOtherwise, we'll visit them.\"<\/p>\n
However, there were fewer temple visitors than at Chinese New
\nYear last year, said Beny, a guard at the temple.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know why,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Last week, Toha Reno of the city public order office said new
\nyear's celebrations at temples and other public places, such as
\nhotels, restaurants and entertainment centers, were prohibited.<\/p>\n
He also said the city had banned any banners, decorations or
\nprinted materials related to Imlek.<\/p>\n
Liani, a vendor of Chinese New Year ornaments and cookies,
\nsaid that this year's celebration was not that different to
\nprevious years.<\/p>\n
\"It's almost the same where people prefer to celebrate it
\nprivately with their family,\" she said, adding that she had no
\nidea if her business was illegal. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cinese-new-year-passes-quietly-1447893297",
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