Year of the Rooster celebrated across Indonesia

Wed, February 1, 2017 / 06:49 pm

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A temple worker places a sticker containing prayer writings on a giant red candle at Dharma Ramsi Temple in Bandung, West Java, ahead of Chinese New Year. Congregation members of the temple can order giant red candles to burn for their individual prayers. JP/Arya Dipa
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Workers handle a paraffin block, used to make giant red candles, in Bandung, West Java. The process of making the 1.7-meter-tall candles began three weeks before Chinese New Year. It takes three days to make one candle. JP/Arya Dipa
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A candle maker pours liquid paraffin wax into a sifter to separate dirt and other unwanted ingredients in Bandung, West Java, ahead of Chinese New Year. JP/Arya Dipa
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A man paints a dragon effigy at Griya Konco Temple in Tanah Kilap, Denpasar, Bali, on Jan. 22. JP/ Zul Trio Anggono
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A woman decorates offerings comprising fruit and cakes at Darmayana Temple in Kuta, Bali, on Jan. 25. JP/ Zul Trio Anggono
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A man carries a penjor ornament to be put in front of a gate at Darmayana Temple in Kuta, Bali, on Jan. 25. Penjor is a Balinese-style bamboo decoration. JP/ Zul Trio Anggono
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Men and women wear the costumes of eight Chinese gods and goddesses at the Grebeg Sudiro festival shortly after prayers took place at Tien Kok Sie Temple in Pasar Gede, Surakarta, Central Java, on Jan. 22. JP/ Magnus Hendratmo
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A woman wears the costume of a Chinese god following the Grebeg Sudiro festival in Pasar Gede, Surakarta, Central Java, on Jan. 22. JP/ Magnus Hendratmo
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Congregation members of Tri Dharma Temple burn prayer papers as a symbol of gratitude in a ritual called “pao oen” at Tien Kok Sie Temple in Pasar Gede, Surakarta, Central Java, on Jan. 15. JP/ Ganug Nugroho Adi
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Five thousands lanterns decorate the Pasar Gede area in Surakarta, Central Java, ahead of the Lunar New Year. JP/ Ganug Nugroho Adi
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Visitors enjoy the three-day Obar Abir (Colorful) Festival at Semawis Imlek Market in the East Wotgandul area in Semarang, Central Java, ahead of Chinese New Year in January. JP/ Suherdjoko
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Congregation members pray at Poncowinatan Temple in Yogyakarta, two days before Imlek, the Lunar New Year. JP/Aditya Sagita
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Congregation members of Poncowinatan Temple in Yogyakarta use the Javanese dish tumpeng during their prayers. Tumpeng, a cone of yellow rice with various sides, is used in the ritual to display the acculturation of Chinese and Javanese cultures. JP/Aditya Sagita
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Participants participate in a rubber raft competition on Pepe River in Pasar Gede, Surakarta, Central Java, during Imlek. JP/ Ganug Nugroho Adi
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Men and women burn candles during prayers at Toasebio Dharma Jaya Temple in West Jakarta on the eve of Chinese New Year on Jan. 27. JP/Bimo Rahardjo
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People walk under hundreds of lanterns at Satya Dharma Temple in Denpasar, Bali, in the early hours of Chinese New Year on Jan. 28. JP/ Zul Trio Anggono

Regions across Indonesia have been celebrating Chinese New Year, which this year fell on Jan. 28, with vibrant colors, traditional dances and prayers.

The year 2568 is a Fire Rooster year and Chinese-Indonesians, who colloquially call the New Year “Imlek,” had set up large red candles, red lanterns and provided entertainment for the public.

Public Imlek celebrations were banned by the government between 1968 and 1999 but in 2000 the late President Abdurrahman Wahid revoked the ban. In 2003, President Megawati Soekarnoputri named Imlek a national holiday. Since then, the festivities have been celebrated nationwide. [evi]