Pindapatta, the joy of giving

Pindapatta, the joy of giving

It was still early on Monday when dozens of Buddhist monks from Indonesian Buddhist Representatives or Walubi peacefully marched down one of Magelang's thoroughfares, Jl. Pemuda. Some shops along the street had yet to open for business.

The bare-footed monks walked along the main road and stopped at any door to receive donations in a form of food or money from shop owners who were mostly Chinese-Indonesians.

Passersby or shoppers who happened to be in the vicinity too gladly gave what they could to the monks.

It's a ritual called Pindapatta, held ahead of the service to mark the Buddhist Day of Enlightenment which fell on May 24.

Usually, the monks commence the ritual after their morning prayer at the Lion Hok Bio temple which is nestled in the corner of Jl. Pemuda. The monks were divided into two groups, one going west and the other east.

This ritual has captivated the attention of the Magelang residents who would move aside and give way to the parading monks.

Having finished walking for around one and a half kilometers, the two groups would then return to the temple to offer the donations from the worshipers.

--Text and photos by P.J. Leo