Pindapatta, the joy of giving<\/p>\n
It was still early on Monday when dozens of Buddhist monks from
\nIndonesian Buddhist Representatives or Walubi peacefully marched
\ndown one of Magelang's thoroughfares, Jl. Pemuda. Some shops
\nalong the street had yet to open for business.<\/p>\n
The bare-footed monks walked along the main road and stopped
\nat any door to receive donations in a form of food or money from
\nshop owners who were mostly Chinese-Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Passersby or shoppers who happened to be in the vicinity too
\ngladly gave what they could to the monks.<\/p>\n
It's a ritual called Pindapatta, held ahead of the service to
\nmark the Buddhist Day of Enlightenment which fell on May 24.<\/p>\n
Usually, the monks commence the ritual after their morning
\nprayer at the Lion Hok Bio temple which is nestled in the corner
\nof Jl. Pemuda. The monks were divided into two groups, one going
\nwest and the other east.<\/p>\n
This ritual has captivated the attention of the Magelang
\nresidents who would move aside and give way to the parading
\nmonks.<\/p>\n
Having finished walking for around one and a half kilometers,
\nthe two groups would then return to the temple to offer the
\ndonations from the worshipers.<\/p>\n
--Text and photos by P.J. Leo<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pindapatta-the-joy-of-giving-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }