Festival Bakar Tongkang

The Bakar Tongkang Festival in Bagan Siapiapi, Riau, is a tradition commemorating the arrival of Chinese ancestors from China in 1883. This unique ritual features the burning of a tongkang replica containing a statue of Dewa Ki Ong Ya, paraded around the city before being set ablaze at the original landing harbor. Locals watch the direction of the ship’s mast fall, symbolizing fortune from the sea or land. The festival blends culture, history, and tourism, attracting thousands of domestic and international visitors while strengthening the bonds of the Chinese community in Rokan Hilir.