Hundreds of tatungs in Singkawang perform road blessing ritual ahead of Cap Go Meh

Singkawang — Hundreds of tatungs (spiritual mediums) in Singkawang City, West Kalimantan, performed a sacred road blessing ritual at Vihara Tri Dharma Bumi Raya on Monday, 2 March, one day before the peak celebration of the 2577 Kongzili Cap Go Meh Festival.

The road blessing ritual is a sacred tradition that forms part of the Cap Go Meh festival celebrations in Singkawang. This procession is believed to symbolise the purification and neutralisation of the roads that the tatungs will traverse during the main Cap Go Meh parade.

At the venue, hundreds of tatungs with various ritual attributes and props performed demonstrations around the temple located in the city centre. Their performances attracted the attention of thousands of residents, including both local residents and visitors from outside the region.

One visitor from Bandung, Anton, said he was captivated by witnessing the ritual directly.

“This is my first time in Singkawang. Usually I only see it from news on the internet or television. It turns out the atmosphere is much more festive and feels sacred,” he said.

“It is truly impressive and extraordinary,” he added.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Magdalena, a visitor from Sintang Regency. She said she had visited Singkawang twice before to witness the Cap Go Meh celebrations.

“The tatung performances in Singkawang are indeed distinctive and different. Besides being unique, I see that the level of tolerance amongst the community is very high, especially since this year coincides with the fasting month,” she said.

According to her, the harmonious atmosphere and mutual respect amongst people of different faiths in Singkawang serve as a special attraction for tourists.

“The impression is absolutely remarkable. The tolerance is high and an atmosphere like this feels rare to find elsewhere,” she said.

She also believes the Cap Go Meh celebrations in Singkawang attract not only domestic tourists but also international visitors.

“Many tourists from abroad are watching and capturing the moment,” she said.

The Cap Go Meh Festival in Singkawang is known as one of the largest celebrations in Indonesia and serves as an annual tourism event that has boosted tourist visits to the region.