Interfaith tolerance must be improved, as social diversity is inevitable. Communities must not be divided over differences.
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REMBANG, KOMPAS – There were jubilant celebrations of Chinese New Year 2569 in cities across the country from Thursday (15/2/2018) to Friday (16/2). People of many religions and ethnicities participated in the celebrations and called all social elements in Indonesia to strengthen national harmony, tolerance and solidarity.
The regent of Rembang in Central Java, Abdul Hafidz, attended the annual Imlek celebration in Lasem, which locals also call “Little China”. Diversity does not create division here, but unites everyone instead. “Therefore, all cultures in Lasem must be nurtured to help develop Rembang regency and Central Java,” Hafidz said.
According to Hafidz, Lasem has a lot of infrastructure of ancient Chinese architecture. The Rembang regency administration has pledged to make Lasem a heritage city and wants to dig into the history of the city as a melting pot of Chinese, Javanese and Arabic culture. Imlek was celebrated at Lasem’s Poo An Bio Temple with music, a barongsai lion dance and performances of the traditional Bambangan Cakil dance.
In Palembang, South Sumatra, Imlek was celebrated at the Dewi Kwan Im Chandra Nadi temple, where thousands of lanterns had been put up. Thousands of locals of Chinese descent gathered in South Sumatra’s oldest temple to pray. Despite the large number of visitors, the solemn rituals went on smoothly.
Frans Wandi, 45, who had come with his family, said was praying for a better life for everyone this year. “The economy has not been good in the past two years. I hope that it will improve this year,” said Frans, a businessman.
Merriment was also seen in Magelang, Central Java. Imlek celebration attendees prayed for all Indonesians to safeguard diversity. Tri Bhakti Foundation patron David Herman Jaya explained that this was the Year of the Earth Dog. “We need to emulate the behavior of a dog that is loyal to its owner. In this sense, Indonesians must be loyal to the nation-state and to God as the owner of the universe,” he said.
Protecting one another
In Surabaya, East Java, locals celebrated Chinese New Year in Tambak Bayan Chinatown with art performances by children and the youth. The dancers were dressed in unique costumes, including a barongsai lion mask. “People want something different. We borrow all the costumes, which is cheaper than renting them,” local community figure Suseno Karja said after the celebration.
Surabaya mayor Tri Rismaharini said she hoped this year’s Imlek celebration could strengthen the community spirit in the city. As people of different backgrounds, Indonesians must be able to safeguard tolerance as brothers and sisters. “Imlek is a moment to encourage ourselves to work harder for the glory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,” she said.
Thursday’s Imlek celebration at the Dharma Ramsi vihara in the Cibadak subdistrict of Bandung, West Java, was filled with joy. Apart from a barongsai lion dance, 132 local youths of different faith attended the celebration.
Asifa Khoirunnisa from the Salim Community said visiting other houses of worship and attending other religions celebrations were important steps to foster a spirit of interfaith tolerance. “Today, we see many radical and anti-tolerance ideas spreading among millennials. We as the youth must encourage everyone, especially college students, to safeguard interfaith harmony and tolerance,” said the student of religious studies at Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University in Bandung.
In Medan, North Sumatra, Imlek celebration at Maha Vihara Maitreya in the Cemara Asri complex served as a calling to all Indonesians to foster national kinship. The celebration at the vihara was held in an atmosphere of brotherhood. Many non-Buddhists were present to observe the celebration in a display of togetherness.
The Imlek praying atmosphere was solemn. Visitors had come since the morning to burn incense sticks and pray. They paid respects and prayed in front of the Buddha Maitreya statue at the front side of the vihara. Visitors rubbed the belly of the three-meter-tall statue. “The Buddha Maitreya is a symbol of love, caring, laughter, joy, luck and happiness,” Maha Vihara Maitreya spokesperson Santi said.
A three-week-long Imlek and Cap Go Meh Festival celebration was opened on Thursday night at Kridasana Stadion in Singkawang, some 150 kilometers from the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak. Thousands of locals attended the celebration, which included a Nusantara dance parade and a barongsai lion dance. “People of Chinese descent and their culture are inseparable from Indonesia. They contribute to our cultural wealth and diversity. Therefore, we need to respect each other and make Imlek and Cap Go Meh mediums to strengthen national unity,” West Kalimantan acting governor Dodi Riyadmadji said.
Presidential Working Unit on the Implementation of Pancasila (UKP-PIP) chairman Yudi Latif said Indonesians’ right to practice any religion was guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution. Indonesians of various ethnic backgrounds have been living in harmony for a very long time. Intergroup conflicts occur only when identity is politicized.
Yudi said this on his visit to the Dharma Bhakti vihara in North Jakarta on Friday. He was accompanied by former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD and former Vice President Try Sutrisno. “Our visit is part of our commitment to visit all religious communities celebrating their religious holidays,” Yudi said.