IMLEK

Bali gearing up for Chinese New Year
The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

The Balinese people have long been known for maintaining an open and tolerant society. For hundreds of years, the island has been a place where people from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds — including people of Arabic, Indian and Chinese descent — have lived side by side in harmony.

As the Lunar New Year — called Imlek in Indonesia — approaches on Feb. 18, Chinese-Balinese are busy preparing to welcome the Year of the Fire Pig. The Chinese community, which makes up around 5 percent of the island’s 3.2 million population, will celebrate the new year in a warm and colorful atmosphere.

Since last week, hundreds of Chinese families have begun observing ritual ceremonies at a number of Chinese and Buddhist temples around Bali. One of the oldest Chinese communities in Bali lives in Tanjung Benoa. Their forefathers were believed to have landed here around the 7th century.

Last Sunday, the community began cleaning up their Kongco (Chinese temple) Caow Eng Bio and decorated the ancient structure with colorful lanterns, papers and other glittering ornaments symbolizing prosperity and happiness.

At another Chinese temple in Tanah Kilap, near Sanur’s Padang Galak Beach, a series of preparatory ceremonies were held to ensure that the New Year celebration would run smoothly

“We cleaned up numerous religious utensils as well as the statues of our gods,” said I.B. Adnyana of Tanah Kilap temple. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the temple management will hold various performances including the Lion or Barong Sai Dance, Balinese dances and other entertainment, including fireworks. “We will invite the entire community here to share happiness. In Bali, we have never experienced religious or ethnic conflicts. We are very grateful for that,” Adnyana said, adding that Chinese- Balinese expected that the Year of Pig would usher in peace and prosperity for the country.

“During the Year of the Pig, it is predicted that many people will gain more prosperous lives. We do expect that those fortunate people would share their luck with the needy,” Adnyana said.

The happy mood is also being felt in the island’s hospitality business, as Bali has been welcoming a large number of visitors from Taiwan, China and Southeast Asian countries like Singapore.

“Many visitors, especially from Chinese-speaking countries, spend their Lunar New Year here in
Bali,” said Lucia Dwi Cahyani, assistant marketing and communication manager of Hard Rock Bali-Kuta.

The hotel, she said, usually has about a 70 percent occupancy rate during Chinese New Year. “We also receive domestic guests from Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan,” she added.

To mark Chinese New Year, Hard Rock Kuta is offering special rupiah packages for families, exclusive dinners and a Lion Dance on Feb. 17-18.

In Sanur, the Bali Hyatt will hold a sumptuous dinner at its Telaga Naga, one of the resort’s specialty restaurants, serving Cantonese and Szechwan dishes.

Visitors to Bali who are not interested in celebrating Chinese New Year, you don’t have to. Everything is open as usual, with some bars and restaurants putting a slight spin on their usual offerings, with decorations, uniforms and food items.

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