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Cap Go Meh 2563 Festivities in West Kalimantan: 7 Dragons and 750 Tatungs Parade
Posted on 30 Jan 2012 at 09:30
3942
The 15th day of the Lunar New Year, or better known here as “Cap Go Meh”, forms the highlight of any Chinese New Year celebrations in Indonesia. This is most elaborately held in areas with a large ethnic Chinese population such as in West Kalimantan, Bangka-Belitung and Palembang or in the Chinatowns of Semarang, Surabaya, Jakarta, Bandung, Manado and Medan. In West Kalimantan, the Cap Go Meh, which this year falls on 6 February 2012, will be celebrated with a vibrant 3-day festival in the cities of Pontianak and Singkawang, from 4 to 6 February 2012.
In Pontianak, the festival this year will be highlighted with the appearance of 7 dragons (called liongs) who will dance in the heart of the city as part of the Archipelago Cultural Festival (Pesta Budaya Nusantara), while in Singkawang, 750 mystical participating Tatungs will parade through the town’s major streets.
In the capital city Pontianak, prior to the grand processions, the so-called Eye Opening ritual will be held at the Kwan Tie Bo Temple on 4 February 2012. On 5 February noon, the 7 dragons will commence their actions together with other art and cultural performances in the Archipelago Cultural Festival. Being a multi-ethnic event, the festival will not only focus on ethnic Chinese culture, but will also be participated by other ethnic groups including Malays and Dayaks,and those from Madura, Bugis, Batak, Javanese, and Sundanese descent.
At the pinnacle of the festival on 6 February 2012, the Dragons will parade from the Temple at the Diponegoro Street, then on to Gajahmada and Hijas Street, before they wind their way across Tanjungpura Street. In the evening, the dragons will perform at the Pontianak Kapuas Square.
In Singkawang, the town known for its production of fine Chinese ceramics, a lantern parade will take place in the evening of 5th February at 19.30 to 23.00 Central Indonesia Time starting from the Mayor’s office through some of the major streets of the town, finishing at the Happy Building. The peak of the festival and the entire New Year series of celebrations will occur on 6 February with the parade of the ancient art of Tatung.
Intended to repel misfortunes for the rest of the year, Tatung is the main medium of the Cap Go Meh ritual to reject evil spirits. During the Tatung rituals, its participants will enter into a trance and perform many unbelievable stunts, such as stepping on a sword, or sticking steel wires or nails into their cheeks. It is quite unbelievable to see that despite such torture, the Tatungs are not wounded or even scarred.
This year, over 750 participants are projected to take part in the ritual. The Tatung Parade will commence from Kridasana stadium at the Gusti Sulung Lelanang Street, then move on to the Diponegoro Street, Niaga Street, Setia Budi Street, and will finish at the front of the altar near the dragon statue at Niaga Street.
Celebrated annually on the 15 day of the Chinese Year, Cap Go Meh literally translated means the 15th night, on which the first full moon of the year occurs. As the pinnacle of the entire Chinese New Year Celebrations, this truly amazing cultural event is surely worth traveling to watch and experience.
For more Information, check:
http://tourism-pastikesingkawang.com/
http://disbudpar.kalbarprov.go.id/
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