Bali's Chinese celebrate Lunar New Year in freedom

By Murdani Usman

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Thousands of Chinese in Bali celebrated the Lunar New Year on Wednesday at several temples in Kuta, Denpasar and other sites on the island.

Happy faces were everywhere as ethnic Chinese, young and old, flocked to temples to pray for good fortune.

They were able to observe their New Year in a free and merry atmosphere this year.

For more than 30 years, Chinese-Indonesians were prohibited from celebrating the event in public. But a year ago the present government eased the rule.

Historically, the community has lived in Bali for centuries as the descendants of the first Chinese immigrants to Southeast Asian.

The Chinese came to Bali as traders and plantation workers and in many other types of work. The legacies of their history, both physical and cultural, remain.

The first immigrants upheld the Confucianist philosophy, but under president Soeharto's concept of nationalism and political discrimination, the Chinese community was compelled to assimilate, including adopting the language and customs of the locals.

However, despite the pressures, the Chinese influence on Balinese culture remains profound. It is clearly seen in the use of Chinese coins as part of Hindu offerings, the Barong dance, Baris Cina dance and the traditional Balinese opera.

Physically, the relics of Chinese culture are found in many places. Sinologist Myra Sidharta said there is one Chinese temple in each of the Singaraja, Kuta and Tabanan towns. All of them are dedicated to Kongco (Ancestor), which is believed to protect the ancestors of the Chinese community.

In Buleleng, North Bali, this sanctuary is called Leeng Gwan Bio or Temple of the Source of Efficiency. It is the largest and most richly decorated of all the temples on the island.

In Kuta, the temple, Leeng Gwan Bio, is believed to date from the second part of the l9th century.

The temple in Tabanan is named Vihara Dharma Cattra; it has been considerably enlarged and looks completely different from its original structure.