People flocked to Pontianak and Singkawang in West Kalimantan over the weekend to celebrate Cap Go Meh, observed on the 15th day after Chinese New Year. In Pontianak, residents and visitors were entertained by a series of dragon shows staged along the city's main thoroughfares accompanied by Chinese traditional percussion. Buyung Bunardi, chairman of the Cap Go Meh event organizing committee, said that on Friday the dragons had gone through a ritual called "buka mata" (open eyes) before their street performances.
Many people from other cities in the province came to Singkawang, widely known for its reputation as the city of a thousand temples, to celebrate the event. In Singkawang, located around 187 kilometers from Pontianak, the Cap Go Meh celebrations were centralized at the Kridasana soccer stadium, which was transformed into a mini version of the Great Wall of China.
The venue was decorated with some Chinese touches, such as red lampions; images of snakes, which celebrate the Year of the Snake; and statues of Kwan Im the goddess of mercy. Novi Taher, 32, a Pontianak resident, said she visited the city to experience the tatung parade. Tatung refers to a person believed to be possessed by the spirits of their ancestors.
They performed some extreme acts, such as piercing themselves with sharp objects and stepping on the sharp edges of machetes or knives. The performers believe their souls are possessed by a god or ancestor's spirit and so do not injure themselves. As many as 750 tatung reportedly took part in the parade, which was held despite the pouring rain.
source : the jakarta post
source : the jakarta post
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