Mixed emotions as ethnic Chinese welcome the Rooster
The Jakarta Post, Medan/Surabaya/Jambi
Chinese-Indonesians ushered in the Year of the Rooster with a variety of festivities across the country.
In a displaced persons shelter in Medan, not a hint of happiness could be spotted in Firus Andalan's face during the Chinese New Year celebration there on Wednesday.
The eager faces of the children waiting for ang pao, red envelopes filled with money, could not cheer up the 62-year-old Chinese-Indonesian native of Peunayong village in Kota Alam district in Banda Aceh.
"I'm sad. Usually, my wife and I celebrated Imlek with our children at home. But not this year. My wife, children and grandchildren are still missing. And our house is gone. I can't believe I have to celebrate Imlek this year without them," said Firus as he broke in to tears.
Chinese-Indonesians, many of whom are traditional traders and shopkeepers, were allowed by the government to openly celebrate the Chinese New Year following Soeharto's downfall, when the government lifted a ban on overt displays of Chinese culture in 2000.
Another person in the shelter, Nyot Oi, lost her second child and her home, but her husband and four other children survived. "There's no way we can be happy this Imlek if we celebrate it in a shelter and without Minyien," said Nyot Oi, referring to her missing child.
It seemed as if only the children were having a good time, receiving ang pao from North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin.
"I'm happy getting ang pao from the governor. My father and mother did not give me one because they have no more money," said Avian, a second grade elementary student from Banda Aceh, who has been living in the shelter since early January.
In Aceh, the Chinese New Year was celebrated in a somber mood as the small, but economically important community was devastated by the giant waves six weeks ago.
About 20 survivors gathered in the morning at the biggest Buddhist temple in Banda Aceh, to mourn the dead with prayers and incense, hoping for a better year ahead as they try to rebuild shattered lives.
"The celebrations last year were much bigger than this. Most people are in Medan now," community leader Tasman was quoted by Reuters. "Nobody is selling new year's items like cakes. There is nothing here."
At least 600 members of the tight-knit community are believed to be among the victims who perished in Banda Aceh, community leaders said.
Shop owner Bakrie said there was little to celebrate.
"The conditions here in Aceh are not good. Areas where the Chinese people were living were devastated. I would say 70 percent of our areas were destroyed and many of our friends died, so we are still in mourning," he said, adding that most Chinese- run businesses were still closed.
"We have to keep up our spirits. I urge my friends and family to come back to Banda Aceh, because this is our home."
In Surabaya, hundreds of Chinese-Indonesians turned up for the celebration at Tri Darma Temple as well as in other temples like Hong Cik Yan, Pakik Bio and Hong San Ko Tee. Security was tight with hundreds of security personnel seen posted around the temples.
At Hong Cik Yan, the people began turning up at 3 a.m., to pray and hand out ang pao to the needy. At Hong San Ko Tee temple, the worshipers also prayed for the tsunami victims in Aceh and North Sumatra.
"This Imlek, we are praying for our brothers in Aceh, and we also are raising funds for Aceh," said Budi Enggal of the temple.
In Jambi, most economic activities came to a halt as 70 percent of shops in the city center were closed during the Imlek celebrations.
"We're closing for two or three days," explained A Huan, a shop owner on the main road, Jl Abujani.
A lot of residents stocked up on food and other items for the annual festivities several days in advance.