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