Dragon, lion dances top 'Imlek' festivities<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
With Chinese New Year fast approaching, the city is gearing up
\nfor some lively festivities.<\/p>\n
A lot of the malls and hotels have organized a string of
\nevents to celebrate the ancient holiday, or Imlek as it is better
\nknown here, which happens on Saturday. Among them is the
\nmagnificent barongsai (lion dance) and the liong (dragon dance).<\/p>\n
This year's festivals are expected to be quite exuberant
\nespecially as it is the first time that the government has
\ndeclared it a national holiday.<\/p>\n
The decision was made after restrictions against Chinese arts
\nand culture were lifted following the downfall of former
\npresident Soeharto, who had banned its celebration, along with
\nother Chinese traditions. At that time, the Chinese community
\ncelebrated the event quietly at home or at the Chinese temples
\nacross the country.<\/p>\n
Over the past two years, Chinese New Year was simply an
\noptional holiday for everyone.<\/p>\n
The city has come alive with the joyful Imlek atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Mal Ciputra Jakarta in West Jakarta will host the barongsai,
\nwhich will be performed during the epic The Story of Tai Chi on
\nSunday, at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. It is the highlight of a string
\nof events held to commemorate the start of the Year of the Ram
\nfrom Jan. 22 to Feb. 22.<\/p>\n
The public will also get a chance to have a photo with the
\nbarongsai.<\/p>\n
In observance of Imlek, Plaza Indonesia in Central Jakarta is
\ngiving a special offer with every purchase for nine days starting
\non Saturday. Chinese traditional dances and martial art
\ndemonstrations will be held at Lamoda Cafe on Feb. 9.<\/p>\n
Fortune tellers will be ready to read visitors' good luck for
\nthe coming year in the east corridor of the mall's ground floor
\non Saturday and Monday, while an exhibition of Chinese paintings
\nwill be held from Feb. 14 to Feb. 23 in the west corridor on the
\nground floor.<\/p>\n
On the eve of Chinese New Year, the Millennium Hotel, Central
\nJakarta, is set to hold a traditional dragon dance before dinner
\nstarts in the lobby lounge. The dragon dance and lion dance will
\nalso be performed at the Lotus restaurant at the Jakarta Hilton
\nInternational hotel on Friday and Saturday.<\/p>\n
Ancol Dreamland (Taman Impian) will hold a two-day dance
\nperformance at their swimming pool, the Ocean Theme Park and the
\nDunia Fantasi amusement park on Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Governor Sutiyoso is scheduled to join the New
\nYear's celebrations at the Hailai in Ancol, North Jakarta, on
\nWednesday, during an event held by the city's organizing
\ncommittee.<\/p>\n
Those who celebrate Chinese New Year pray to the gods and
\ntheir ancestors at temples in the hopes of having good luck and a
\nprosperous year ahead.<\/p>\n
The festivities will reach a climax on Feb. 15, which is
\npopularly known as Cap Go Meh.<\/p>\n
On the eve of the Year of the Goat, many people go to Chinese
\ntemples to pray.<\/p>\n
\"More people come to temples on the eve of Imlek because by
\npraying right when the year changes, they believe their prayers
\nwill be answered,\" Salim, an attendant at Toasebio temple, Jl.
\nKemenangan III, West Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Some others, he said, will pray on Feb. 8 as they believe it
\nwill bring them more fortune \"because the Chinese word for eight,
\nba, is sounds like the word for bloom\".<\/p>\n
Combining the festivities for Imlek and Cap Go Meh, the
\nToasebio temple, under the management of the Dharma Jaya
\nFoundation, will stage a parade to celebrate the Chinese, Betawi
\n(native Jakarta), Balinese and Javanese cultures on Sunday, Feb.
\n16.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dragon-lion-dances-top-imlek-festivities-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}