Bakar Tongkang Ritual: Chinese Ancestral Tradition Endures in Bagansiapiapi

Members of the Chinese ethnic community performed the Bakar Tongkang ritual in Bagansiapiapi, Rokan Hilir, Riau, on Wednesday (1/7/2026). This annual ritual, which commemorates the history of the arrival of Chinese ancestors in the area, has been designated by the government as a national tourism agenda.

Before the barge (tongkang) is burnt, prayers are offered as an expression of gratitude and as a hope for safety, blessings, and prosperity for the community that has preserved this tradition across generations.

The burning of the wooden barge symbolises the ships that once carried Chinese ancestors to Bagansiapiapi. This tradition serves as a reminder of the journey, courage, and the beginning of a new life that subsequently flourished in the land of Riau. Bakar Tongkang is not only a cultural ritual for the Chinese community but has also been established as a national tourism agenda. Behind the festivities, this tradition continues to preserve historical memory while strengthening togetherness across generations and cultures.