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Riau's Tongkang Burning Festival 2017 attracts 52,000 tourists
Thousands of visitors flocked to the streets around Ing Hok Kiong Temple in Bagansiapiapi, Rokan Hilir regency, Riau, to witness the 2017 Tongkang Burning Festival held on June 10-11
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The ritual was first introduced to the people of Riau in the 19th century to celebrate the Chinese community in Bagansiapiapi back in 1820. (Instagram.com/ulex.bulu)
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housands of visitors flocked to the streets around Ing Hok Kiong Temple in Bagansiapiapi, Rokan Hilir regency, Riau, to witness the 2017 Tongkang Burning Festival held on June 10-11.
The ritual was first introduced to the people of Riau in the 19th century to commemorate the arrival of the Chinese community in Bagansiapiapi in 1820.
Read also: Airports to boost tourism in Riau Islands
The festival is also known as Go Gek Cap Lak in Hokkien.
“Some 52,000 tourists attended the festival; 30,000 were local tourists, while the rest were foreigners. It was beyond our expectation of 43,000 visitors. Hotels were fully booked and residents offered their homes to rent for a week for the price of Rp 4 million [US$301]. Some tourists even stayed in Dumai or Riau,” said Riau Tourism, Youth and Sports Agency head Fahmizal Usman.
Read also: Chinese culture finds home here
During the procession, people lit up joss sticks on Jl. Kelenteng and a large replica of a shit that had previously been blessed was brought out from the oldest temple. The replica would later be moved to the water and burned.
During the burning process, spectators anxiously waited for the main mast of the ship to fall, believing that the direction in which it crumbles will determine their fortune for the coming year. If the mast falls to the ground, that means the year’s fortune will come from land. (kes)
