Semarang's Chinese set to celebrate 'Imlek'<\/p>\n
Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang<\/p>\n
Beads of sweat trickle down Hui Liam's face while he dusts the
\nsmall statues in front of him with a brush.<\/p>\n
\"I've been assigned to clean these gods statues this year,\"
\nsaid Hui at the Tay Kak Sie Temple on Gang Lombok, Semarang, on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Dozens of other Chinese-Indonesians were preoccupied, sprucing
\nup altars in the temple where huge statues of gods of the
\nConfucian faith typical of a Chinese temple were placed.<\/p>\n
Four people were seen polishing a brass urn used to place joss
\nsticks to worship the Ruler of the Universe: the Sky Diety, Earth
\nDeity and Water Deity right at the entrance to the temple.<\/p>\n
In other parts of the temple, three middle-aged ladies were
\ncarefully placing wreaths on auxiliary statues of the God of Good
\nHealth Poo Seng Tay Tee in another room.<\/p>\n
\"They are Poo Seng Tay Tee's assistants in handling matters
\nrelating to warding off misfortune, healing and medicine,\" said
\none of the ladies.<\/p>\n
After adorning the statues, they bowed and clasped their hands
\ntogether in reverence.<\/p>\n
Such activities were commonplace in several other temples in
\nSemarang's Chinatown area such as the Ling Hok Bio, Wie Hwei
\nKiong, See Hoo Kiong, Tek Hay Bio, Tong Pek Bio, Siu Hok Bio, Hoo
\nHok Bio, Kong Tik Soe and Cetya Setia Budhi Dharma temples. Tri
\nDharma devotees were seen busy repainting and cleaning their
\ntemple.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian-Chinese community in Semarang will hold the
\n2005 Imlek Semawis Festival in Chinatown from Feb. 5 to Feb. 8 to
\nmark the 2556 Chinese New Year.<\/p>\n
A replica of a giant rooster made by Oie Eng Tek was ordered
\nby the Kopi Semawis community to mark the Year of the Rooster. It
\nwas paraded from Seteran Tengah village to Chinatown passing
\nthrough main thoroughfares; a spectacle for thousands of
\nonlookers.<\/p>\n
The organizer of the festival, Benita Eka Arijani of Capung
\nOrganizer, said that there would be several stands offering
\nChinese traditional food such as moon cake, pork satay, titee
\nnoodles, ca kwe, jun herbal drink; not to mention local fare such
\nas gudeg (unripe jackfruit cooked in coconut milk and served with
\neggs and chicken) and nasi pecel (steamed rice served with
\nsteamed vegetables and peanut sauce).<\/p>\n
\"There will be 160 stands selling Chinese medicine, drinks,
\nImlek decorations, alternative medicine, and traditional arts
\nsuch as Siang Dji chess and feng shui consultations. We will also
\nstage the lion dance, wushu and Mandarin singing performances,
\nincluding the drama Sam Pek Eng Tay,\" said Benita.<\/p>\n
A senior Chinese-Indonesian figure, Sindu Dharmalie, expressed
\nhappiness that the traditions, arts and beliefs of the Chinese
\ncommunity were now more accepted by Indonesians at large.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, we Indonesians all practice 'imported' religions.
\nThe traditional faith in Java is Kejawen (mysticism associated
\nwith the Javanese view of the world). So, now that this faith
\nfrom China has been accepted -- not restricted anymore, as it was
\nduring the New Order regime -- I'm very pleased. Everyone
\nreceives equal treatment,\" said Sindu.<\/p>\n
He sees the coming festival benefiting many people, \"Pedicab
\ndrivers, hotels, taxi drivers and those selling food and goods
\nwill all gain from this festival.\"<\/p>\n
He also reiterated that every Chinese-Indonesian should
\nunderstand the teaching of Confucius that \"Where one is born is
\nones motherland and nationality.\"<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is our motherland and we're certainly a part of the
\nIndonesian people. It's just like Australians are to the United
\nKingdom. They are no longer British-oriented, as we are no longer
\nlinked to mainland China,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/semarangs-chinese-set-to-celebrate-imlek-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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