BANYUWANGI – Puncak perayaan Imlek ke- 2567 held at the Hoo Tong Bio Temple, Banyuwangi last Saturday evening (13/2). Around 3.000 invitations thronged the temple located at Jalan Ikan Gurami number 54 the Banyuwangi.
The Chinese New Year peak was attended by almost all representatives and people of Chinese descent from all over Banyuwangi. Not only people from the two Hoo Tong Bio and Tik Liong Tian temples, Most members of the Chinese community from all sub-districts flock to enliven the Chinese New Year festivities.
They celebrated by singing and eating together in the Hoo Tong Bio Temple hall. Various dances are presented on the peak night of Chinese New Year. There is a lotus flower dance performance (wu qi xing fugu) which is played by Chinese girls.
With graceful body movements, beautiful girls appeared stunning in front of thousands of invitees. Chairman of the Banyuwangi Chinese Community Endrawan said, This event, which was attended by thousands of people, was held for the first time.
Previously, Chinese New Year celebrations are only held individually, good by the temple, community, as well as Individuals. However, this time all Chinese people of all ages were invited.
In total there are approx 3000 people present that night. Apart from singing and being happy together, The committee participated in distributing compensation to underprivileged residents and orphans. Not only that, that night they also donated to mosques and Islamic boarding schools.
“We are helping to teach people to be more sensitive to their surrounding environment, so it's not just about having fun,said Endrawan. One of the administrators of the Hoo Tong Bio Temple, Suryo Utomo added, that the happiness they shared that night could at least be felt by all parties.
Because of that, from the start, many chairs had been prepared both inside and outside the Hoo Tong Bio Temple hall so that everyone could watch. "We share it 1.400 yesterday's invitation, one invitation we allocate for two people, and thankfully around 3000 people attended, If there is good luck, maybe next year we will hold it again,said Suryo.
Meanwhile, Head of Tri Dharma Place of Worship (TITD) Hoo Tong Bio, Susana Indriyati, explain, If there are quite a lot of people of Chinese descent in Banyuwangi. And not all of them have such a lucky fate. So on the eve of the Chinese New Year celebration together, everyone can feel happiness together even if it is only realized by singing and eating together.
"This Chinese New Year opportunity is a time for us to share with each other, because everyone gathers without discrimination. They can be happy together, What is clear is that all of this is because of Gus Dur,Susan said. (radar)
