Jakarta -- a city of contrasting moods
Jakarta -- a city of contrasting moods
JAKARTA (JP): The hustle and bustle of Tanah Abang market
contrasted greatly with Kota, the city's Chinatown, which was
virtually deserted yesterday.
As Moslems did last minute Idul Fitri shopping in Tanah Abang,
the minority Chinese community in the city celebrated at home to
mark the coming of the Year of the Ox.
Many of the wealthier Chinese had already flown to countries
like Singapore, Hong Kong and Taipei where lunar new year
celebrations were more festive and included the lion dance.
In Jakarta, in conforming with Governor Surjadi Sudirdja's
appeal, the new year was more a family affair, mostly celebrated
solemnly among close relatives and friends within the confines of
people's homes.
There were no street parades or dances that one would find in
Singapore, Hong Kong and even Kuala Lumpur and San Francisco's
Chinatown.
Most shops lining Jl. Gajah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk leading
to Kota were closed. Gajah Mada Plaza and other shopping centers
in the area were opened but attracted few shoppers.
The roads were devoid of the congestion that normally chokes
the two roads day and night.
The few open stores, mostly selling textiles, stood out.
"My boss asked me to open the shop, maybe he anticipated
shoppers as Lebaran (Idul Fitri) approaches," Liem Hok Liong, an
employee of a textile shop, said.
Petak Sembilan, famous for its street market, remained crowded
but mostly by people selling Chinese New Year ornaments. Chinese
songs blaring out from some kiosk and the fragrance of burning
joss sticks made the new year atmosphere complete.
The fragrance was even stronger in nearby Dharma Bhakti
Buddhist temple, the oldest temple in Kota, as devotees entered,
lit joss sticks, prayed, and then left.
"Few people come here everyday. But their number increased at
new year," a temple guard said.
The guard helped a young couple release dozens of sparrows.
"This symbolizes throwing away last year's bad fortunes," he
said, adding that the number of birds must at least equal the age
of the person who releases them. (05)