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Buddhist celebration reflects unity in Glodok
Party mix: Chinese-Indonesians and local residents dance at the 260-year-old Dharma Jaya Temple, locally called Toa Se Bio, in Glodok, West Jakarta, recently
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span class="inline inline-center">Party mix: Chinese-Indonesians and local residents dance at the 260-year-old Dharma Jaya Temple, locally called Toa Se Bio, in Glodok, West Jakarta, recently. The performance was part of a series of activities organized to celebrate Buddhist god Cheng Guan Cheng Kun's birthday. JP/Alez Kurniawan
Despite the rain in Glodok, West Jakarta, dozens of Chinese-Indonesians flocked recently to the 260-year-old Dharma Jaya Temple, locally called Toa Se Bio, to be treated by two mediums possessed by temple spirits, during the birthday celebrations of Cheng Guan Cheng Kun, a god accompanied by two black dogs.
After the spirits, which Buddhist and Chinese-Indonesians presumed were the keepers of the temple, possessed the bodies of the two men wearing yellow, apron-like uniforms, each took a 75-centimeter-long sword and scraped their tongues until they bled.
The possessed mediums used the blood from their tongues to treat sick visitors. Mirna, for example, had a leg affliction. After the possessed man understood her problem, he rubbed the blood on her leg. She, like other Buddhist and Chinese-Indonesians, believed that the treatment could heal her affliction.
'This is a Lok Tung ceremony, which is conducted once a year,' temple officer Hartanto Wijaya told The Jakarta Post.
The two mediums came from the Tay Seng Bio Temple in Manado, North Sulawesi, and the Yo Cian Bio Temple in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, he added.
The rain, the fragrance of thousands of burning incense sticks, the lights of hundreds of lampion (Chinese lanterns), the pealing of two bells and prayer recitals made the ceremony, which started at 2 p.m., more solemn. The ceremony was open to all. Many who were not Buddhist or Chinese-Indonesians visited the temple to be treated by the mediums.
'A barongsai [lion dance] performance will be held after the Lok Tung ceremony. Tonight [June 21], we will also hold a live music performance,' he said.
Hartanto believed that many local people, from various ethnic groups and religions, would flock to the temple to enjoy the music performance, which would end the three-day celebration.
On the second day, Chinese-Indonesians and locals conducted the Fang Sheng ritual, during which they released thousands of birds as a symbol of global freedom, he said.
Cici, a 57-year-old Christian and Chinese-Indonesian living near the temple, said she always enjoyed the annual entertainment programs held at Toa Se Bio, partly because her two sons were Buddhists.
'Although I am not a Buddhist, I also participate in the Fang Sheng ritual,' she said.
On the first day, the temple's officers presented the Gambang Kromong music ensemble, which attracted dozens of local people, including Amir, a 35-year-old Muslim greengrocer.
'I do not care that they are Chinese because they are so friendly. I come here for the dancing,' Amir said.
Dakrip, a 62-year-old Muslim neighborhood guard who oversaw motorcycle parking at the temple during the three-day celebration, said he had never witnessed any clashes between Chinese and non-Chinese in Glodok.
'The Chinese living here are not exclusive because they have assimilated with locals,' he said, revealing that he had worked in Glodok since 1979.
Abdul Fatah, a Chinese preacher who has lived in Glodok since independence, told the Post that during the fasting month, the temple's officers usually donated funds for Muslim orphans and breaking-of-the-fast events.
'We otherwise always invite Chinese-Indonesians to participate in Idul Fitri festivities,' said Fatah, who is better known as Koh Akong in Glodok.
He said that according to the Koran, Prophet Muhammad taught about habluminannas and how Muslims should build good relations with everyone regardless of religion.
'What we do in Glodok is follow Prophet Muhammad's acts,' the 70-year-old preacher said. (alz)
