Temples gear up to welcome 'Imlek'<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several vihara (Buddhist temples) around Glodok, West Jakarta,
\nhave been gearing up to welcome Imlek or the Chinese New Year
\nthat will fall on Jan. 22 this year. Several ethnic Chinese
\nfamilies were seen performing religious services in the temples.<\/p>\n
The oldest and biggest temple Dharma Bhakti on Jl. Petak
\nSembilan, built in 1650 during the Dutch colonial rule, had been
\ncleaned and repainted by workers although it still welcomed the
\ncommunity.<\/p>\n
"We have to clean the statue of every god and every room in
\nthe temple carefully. There are hundreds of statues, including
\nthe Buddha, actually. We have the chance to do it today because
\nfewer people come to the temple as according to our belief the
\ngods went to heaven two days ago," said Herman, a member of the
\ntemple management.<\/p>\n
He explained that on the 26th day of the final month of the
\nlunar year, the gods go to heaven to report to the King of the
\ngods on people's behavior on earth. They will return to the earth
\non the fourth day of the new year to supervise the people.<\/p>\n
At least 30 towering red candles, more than two-meters high,
\nstood in the main worship room, ready to be lit for the new year.
\nThey were contributed by the Dharma Bhakti community.<\/p>\n
"My family and I come here to pray in the old temple. I wish
\nwe could celebrate the new year here but I must return home,"
\nsaid Arjuna, a Chinese Buddhist from Palembang, South Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Chinese-Indonesians are able to celebrate Imlek after former
\npresident Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid issued Presidential Decree
\nNo. 6\/2000 that revoked Presidential Instruction No. 14\/1967 on
\nChinese religion, tradition and beliefs.<\/p>\n
Since the issuance of the decree, the local Chinese community
\nhave been free to perform the Barongsay (lion dance) and Liong
\n(dragon dance) in public places.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur also made the Chinese New Year a recognized national
\nday before the government officially declared it a national
\nholiday last year.<\/p>\n
Other nearby temples of Dharma Jaya, Hu Tek Bio, Dharma Sakti
\nand Kong Wa Sih were also a hive of activity.<\/p>\n
The 250-year-old Dharma Jaya, the second biggest temple in the
\narea, welcomed the new year without special preparations.<\/p>\n
"We want to celebrate Imlek in a modest way. We only clean the
\nstatues in the hope that we can achieve our important mission
\nwhich is to clean our hearts," said Hertanto, the security
\nofficer of Dharma Jaya.<\/p>\n
He estimated around 1,000 visitors would come to the temple
\nstarting Wednesday evening until the busiest hour at midnight and
\ncontinue to the morning.<\/p>\n
"A temple like Dharma Bhakti will be visited by more than
\n2,000 people from all over Jakarta," he said.<\/p>\n
An old lady was seen chanting at the Hu Tek Bio temple in
\nfront of one of the gods. She raised both hands above her head,
\nholding incense sticks, while praying. As she sat on the floor,
\nshe closed her eyes and held her breath.<\/p>\n
"I hope the gods can hear me although they have already gone
\nto heaven. I pray for my son, that he can recover from drug
\naddiction in the coming year. I also beg the gods to bless my
\ndaughter who will get married soon. I hope she will find
\nhappiness," she said.<\/p>\n
Outside the temples, dozens of beggars from infants to elderly
\npeople waited patiently for alms under the hot sun.<\/p>\n
"I suggest the media report on those beggars outside the
\ntemple. There will be thousands of them on Wednesday. We really
\nhope the government can do something for them," said Hu Tek Bio's
\nchief priest, I Beng Hui.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/temples-gear-up-to-welcome-imlek-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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