Budhist parade brings Tangerang into a standstill

Budhist parade brings Tangerang into a standstill

TANGERANG (JP): Thousands of Tangerang residents observed on
Sunday the 12-yearly procession of the Chinese Supreme Goddess
Awalokiteswara, or Kwan Im, a festival where Buddhists express
their gratitude to the Goddess.

They flocked to the main road of the township since early
morning to witness the 10-kilometer-long parade, which also
offered numerous performances, from the Chinese Liong (Dragon
dance) and Barongsay (Tiger dance) to local traditional arts such
as East Java's Reog Ponorogo dance, Betawi's (native Jakartans)
Tanjidor and Rebana music and Balinese dance.

The town's activities almost came to a halt as shops closed
and public transportations suspended their operations to enjoy
the rare procession. Meanwhile, people from different religions
and races eagerly crowded the main road to cheer the parade.

The procession is held every 12 years during the Chinese
dragon year. This year's procession was the 13th since the
construction of the temple.

"The last parade was held in 1976 because 1988 procession was
prohibited by the government because the year also saw the death
of Yogyakarta monarch Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX," a committee
member for this year's parade said.

She said the tradition began in 1844, when local Buddhists
renovated and extended the Bon Tek Bio temple and placed the
statues of the Gods and Goddess at the altar.

The statues of the Gods and Goddess were placed on a red
wooden carriage called Kajoli to be presented during the
procession. Dozens of youths carried the carriage on their
shoulders.

During the procession, devotees honored the Goddess Kwan Im by
joining their palms and chanting the name of the Goddess.

Many devotees tried to get close and touch the passing
carriage as they believed that touching the carriage will bring
Peng an or good luck and prosperity.

One day before the procession the statue of Hok Tek Tjeng Sin
or Earth God, was carried around the town to guard the route that
would be taken by the Goddess Kwan Im the next day.

The Sunday's procession started at 5 a.m., when the three
statues of the Gods and Goddesses were brought down from the
altar of the temple to be decorated, while thousands of followers
said their prayers. Some of the followers then cleaned the altar.

The statue of Kwa Lam Ya, or the Judge, was adorned in a
green cloth, Kwan Seng Tek Kun or General Kwan Kong in a red
cloth and finally Kwan Im in a yellow cloth.

Dozens of women walked behind the statues, throwing flowers
and chanting prayers. While some youngsters followed carrying big
joss sticks, others beat drums.

At the rear end of the procession, two men, in black costumes,
rode on a horse, while another horse followed without a horseman,
as it was believed that General Kwan Kong was riding on it,
guarding the procession.

Behind these 'heavenly soldiers', liong and barongsay dancers
moved around and collected Ang Pau, or money placed inside red
envelopes, from the crowd.

In contrast to past processions, this year's event was
enlivened by the presence of dozens of youngsters of Chinese
descent, wearing traditional clothes from Indonesia's 26
provinces and students carrying the national flag.

Members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI
Perjuangan) Security Task Force and the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
Muslim organization's civilian guards helped the police safeguard
the parade.

The procession ended at around 11 a.m. when the whole group
returned to the temple and placed the statues back on the altar.
(dja)