Chinese New Year Celebrations During a Pandemic

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year\'s Chinese New Year celebrations were less joyful than previous years. However, thanks to digital adaptation, people are still celebrating.

KOMPAS/EMANUEL EDI SAPUTRA

The dragon monument, the icon of Singkawang City, West Kalimantan is decorated with lanterns to enliven the atmosphere of Chinese New Year on Wednesday night (10/2/2021). (The captions were translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Citizens of Chinese descent celebrated Chinese New Year modestly in several parts of the country on Friday. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s celebrations were less joyful than previous years. However, thanks to the rapid development of digital technology, Chinese New Year was still be celebrated with joy.

Ali, among those who celebrated Chinese New Year at Dharma Bhakti Temple in Glodok, Taman Sari, West Jakarta, on Friday (12/2/2021), acknowledged that he spent less on decorations for this year\'s Chinese New Year celebrations. He only bought new clothes for his wife and children for worship.

However, the pandemic has not discouraged people of Chinese descent from celebrating Chinese New Year with relatives living far apart.

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Cahyadi (53), a resident of Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, can still greet his family and relatives virtually. Before worshiping at Dharma Bhakti Temple, Cahyadi celebrated Chinese New Year virtually with his colleagues via a video conference application.

“After this, I made a video call with my son who lives in Singapore and other distant relatives. We can still distribute angpau (gift) to nephews through online transfers, "he said.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A woman prays at Dhanagun (Hok Tek Bio) temple, Bogor City, West Java to celebrate Chinese New Year on Thursday night (11/2/2021). The number of visitors during the celebration of the 2572 Chinese New Year at the monastery was limited to comply with health protocols to suppress the spread of Covid-19. Even though the number of visitors was not as high as in previous years, the religious ritual carried out on Chinese New Year ‘s eve went smoothly and solemnly. (The captions were translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).

The digital adaptation not only allows residents to celebrate Chinese New Year with relatives who are far away, but also carry out other traditions such as giving angpau, or money ,to children and parents through digital wallets.

The widespread use of digital wallets in giving angpau during this year’s Chinese New Year was illustrated in an online survey conducted by Neurosensum survey, which indicated that up to 50 percent of respondents said they would use e-wallet as a means of giving the angpau. Only 38 percent of respondents said they would use cash.

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“We were amazed by the fluency, literacy and digital adaptation of the Indonesian people," the managing director of Neurosensum Indonesia, Mahesh Agarwal , said in an official statement.

In regions

In some regions, the Chinese New Year celebrations also took place modestly, but were still full of joy.

In Manado, North Sulawesi, large worship services and fireworks displays during the Chinese New Year\'s Eve were prohibited. At the Tri Dharma Ban HinKiong temple, only members of the temple management were allowed to join a group worship. Others prayed privately. In the service he led, Heri Rumagit, one of the administrators of Ban Hin Kiong, asked for the protection of all mankind from Covid-19. He hoped that the vaccination program for the Indonesian people which has begun since last month can restore the people’s normal life.

Kompas/Priyombodo

A citizen of Chinese descent guides children as they pray during the celebration of Chinese New Year at Amurva Bhumi Temple (Hok Tek Tjeng Sin), South Jakarta, on Friday (12/2/2021). (The captions were translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).

In Medan, North Sumatra, the Chinese New Year was also celebrated simply. No colorful decorations and the people’s excitement were seen in the city like in the previous years.

"We wish our country to improve and recover from the impact of the pandemic this year," an administrator of the Maha Vihara Maitreya temple, Dicky Paskarianto, said at the Cemara Asri complex on Friday.

The lanterns that usually filled the entire temple complex were only installed only in moderation. A series of Chinese New Year celebrations, such as the bazaar and Cap Go Meh parade, were not held this year.

The celebrations can be held but we must implement health protocols.

In Palembang, South Sumatra, administrators of places of worship limited the number of visitors. They urged people to worship at home. "We have appealed to the congregation to join a group prayer at home using a virtual network," the head of Bhumi Sriwijaya temple in Palembang, Biksu Sukarman said.

The South Sumatra governor, Herman Deru, appreciated the initiatives taken by administrators of the places of worship to implement the health protocols in celebrating the Chinese New Year. “The celebrations can be held but we must implement health protocols," he said.

KOMPAS/ERIKA KURNIA

People visit Bhakti Dharma Temple in the Glodok area, South Jakarta on Friday afternoon (12/2/2021) to worship during the celebration of Chinese New Year. A number of people outside the temple also took an opportunity to ask for alms from the visitors. (The captions were translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).

In Surabaya, East Java, citizens of Chinese descent used the celebration of the New Chinese Year which was held amid the implementation of the public activity restrictions (PPKM) to promote tourism in “ Chinatown villages. There are at least four Chinatown villages in Surabaya, namely Kya-Kya (Kembang Jepun), Kapasan Dalam, Karet, and Tambak Bayan.

Residents of Kapasan Dalam, Kapasan, Simokerto, Surabaya, decorated their village with various Chinese New Year ornaments, including lanterns and dragons in alleys and houses. The alley walls were decorated with eye-catching murals. The villages become attractive spots for a photo shoot and selfie locations.

Meanwhile in Magelang, Central Java, Chinese New Year celebrations were held at the Liong Hok Bio temple modestly . Only a limited number of the residents were allowed to participate in the event. Strict health protocols were also implemented during Chinese New Year celebrations in Bandung, West Java. (HRS/NCA /OKA/ ETA /BRO/ RAM / NSA / RTG / EGI / ERK)

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.