Indonesia celebrates Chinese New Year in style

Fri, 02/08/2008 11:52 AM  |  City

Millions of ethnic Chinese people celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Rat throughout the region Thursday.

Celebrations to mark Chinese New Year were peaceful, despite the fact predictions were made regarding financial and political trouble, tsunamis and epidemics in the year to come.

From late Wednesday, families prayed for a peaceful, prosperous year in temples, which were also packed with beggars collecting alms.

Those not celebrating Chinese New Year still flocked to temples and shopping malls to enjoy Imlek festivities, including barongsai (lion dance) performances.

After enduring decades of repression, Chinese-Indonesians can now celebrate the auspicious day openly, with public festivities for Imlek uniting people from all ethnic groups. -- The Jakarta Post

Comments (0)  |   Post comment
A  |   A  |   A  |   Mail to a friend  |  Printer Friendly Version |  Digg it!  |  Add to Del.icio.us!  |  Add to Reddit!  |  Stumble it!

What's On

more
more
Not available.