Tatung is the Hakka Chinese word for a person who is possessed by gods or by the spirits of ancestors, apparently making him resistant to pain. Tatungs usually demonstrate their ability by piercing their bodies with sharp objects. They are an essential part of the Cap Go Meh tradition and a symbol of warding off misfortune.

The event's committee head Cung Jung Min said the tatung attraction would be concentrated at Sambas Market on Jl. Keramat. “More tatung could be joining the festivity," Cung said as quoted by news agency Antara on Tuesday, adding that he wished the event, which will kick off on Friday, would boost tourism in Sambas as it usually attracted many visitors.

(Read also: Yogyakarta hosts Chinese cultural week)

The Cap Go Meh celebration is annually held 15 days after the Lunar New Year, which also marks the last day of the New Year celebration. 

The celebration is set to start with the cuci jalan (street cleaning) ritual starting from Jl. Panji Anom and moving along Jl. TVRI, Jl. Gusti Hamzah, past the Tri Dharma Sit Can Thong Temple and ending at Jl. Tionghoa. Participants will continue the tradition with cuci sungai ritual, where they will make a U-turn to the Lian Thin Temple. The tatung attraction will be displayed on the following day.

Cung noted that this year's Cap Go Meh celebration in Sambas would be done in a toned-down manner due to the “dynamic political situation lately”, as well as limited funding. (mas/kes)

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