The Peh Cun dragon boat festival, held in and along the Cisadane River, recently returned to Tangerang, Banten, with people from all walks of life participating in traditional Chinese festivities.

Teams comprising people of various ethnicities and religious backgrounds competed in 500-meter boat races in the river, located along Jl. Kali Pasir in Sukasari subdistrict. Rowers, including those of the first-ever Tangerang Police team, paddled to the beat of drums, moving their arms rhythmically.

One team, Badak Cisadane (Cisadane Rhinos), was ecstatic after winning its quarterfinal match against Buddhi Dharma University in the papak (flat) boat category.

The Rhinos formed only three years ago but have participated in every boat race at the festival since the team’s inception. It currently has 23 members.

“Our team is composed of those of different ethnic backgrounds. I am Batak and another team member of mine is of Chinese descent. I am Christian and my compatriots are Buddhist and Muslim. We all work together, we just want to win,” said Rhinos rower Alex Siahaan. The team placed third overall.

Races are divided into two categories: dragon boats and papak boats. The boat length for both categories is roughly 17 meters. However, the former features boats that are made to resemble dragons, while the latter features plain boats.

Sixteen teams participated in the dragon boat category and another sixteen in the papak category. Each team can have up to 25 members, including substitutions.

“This year, we have competitors from very different backgrounds. We have a team from Buddhi Dharma University, Setia Bhakti High School, and even the Tangerang Police,” said organizing committee member Yandi Tanu during the event.

Hundreds of enthusiastic visitors flocked to the riverbank for the festival to witness the intensity of the dragon boat races.

Peh Cun means “to sail a boat” in Hokkien. The races made up the main event of the two-day festival on June 15 and 16. Held annually in Tangerang since 1910, the festival commemorates the life of ancient poet and minister Qu Yuan, who committed suicide for the love of his country during China’s Warring States period.

The paddlers’ enthusiasm was felt, as was the excitement of those in attendance. Many spectators brought high-quality cameras to capture the best moments of the race.

“The race can be very close and intense. There is also a food bazaar near Boen Tek Bio temple, so my friends and I are excited to head over there after the race is over,” said Gading Serpong resident Kezia.

Other than the marquee dragon boat event, Peh Cun festival also dedicated an area to over 125 types of chili next to Chinese heritage house Roemah Boeroeng on Jl. Cilangkap, just across the Cisadane River.

Along the entire street, vendors sold Chinese food and beverages, such as bakcang (sticky rice dumplings) and Liang Teh Medan (Chinese herbal tea). In addition, vendors also sold bonsai trees and bantam chickens.

Cultural events were also scheduled, including calligraphy and poetry competitions.

According to local resident and pharmacist at the Hok Ho Tong traditional drugstore Edi Setiawan, the size of the crowd had increased in the last few years.

“People that come to our drugstore during the festival came from all over Greater Jakarta and a few even came from Bandung,” he said.

The race was organized by the Boen Tek Bio temple’s spiritual and social group, while the chili section was arranged by the Indonesians of Chinese Descent (Pertiwi) group with the support of the Tangerang government.

The two organizations worked together to preserve the region’s Chinese heritage and introduced Chinese culture to Indonesia in a manner that maintained harmony and solidarity among people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. (bry)

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