The capital's oldest temple, Kim Tek Ie Temple, also known as Dharma Bhakti Temple, located on Jl. Kemenangan III in Glodok, West Java, is providing the poor with cheap nasi kuning (yellow rice) ahead of Chinese New Year.

The temple management is handing out 75 packages of yellow rice every day for those who live near the temple. Each package is sold for Rp 3,000 (22 US cents).

“They can eat all they want with only Rp 3,000,” Dharma Bhakti Foundation management head Gunawan Djayaputra said on Friday as quoted by tempo.co.

The yellow rice, sold in the temple compound at the "Halal Yellow Rice Corner Stall" from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every day, was first offered on Jan. 16 and will continue to be sold until Chinese New Year on Feb. 5.

Gunawan said the foundation was working with yellow rice sellers from around the temple to supply the packages. The packages typically cost Rp 12,000. 

The idea to provide food for the poor began during Ramadan in 2018.

Built in 1650, Dharma Bakti Temple is the oldest temple in Jakarta. Around 5,000 Buddhists celebrated Chinese New Year in the temple last year. The temple management predicted a spike in visitors for this year’s celebration. (gis)