Chinese New Year Celebration in Bali 2011

Bali is a wonderful Indonesian island, surrounded by Java in the west and Lombok in the east. Majority of the population of this island are Hindu. You can also find some Christian and Muslim residents in the Island. Apart from this, there also exist Chinese immigrants. Traditions followed by these immigrants have

mingled with the local traditions. Anyways, some conventional festivals are also observed by these immigrants. The Chinese New Year, the biggest festival of the Chinese, is celebrated in different parts of Indonesia including Bali. Like every year, Chinese New Year Celebration in Bali 2011, will include traditional practices and beliefs brought to this island by the Chinese immigrants who still follow the customs of their ancestors.

Before 2002, Chinese New Year was not a holiday in Indonesia. But since 2002, to the delight of the Chinese immigrants, the occasion is being observed as a national holiday in Indonesia. Whatsoever, this is the perfect time for family reunion and to show respect to the ancestors. Though the customs followed on this occasion vary markedly from family to family, but the basic idea has remained the same.

Chinese New Year Celebrations in Bali

Chinese New Year is being celebrated since long. The occasion comes on different day of each year. In 2011, it is falling on 3rd February. It starts on the first day of the New Moon and ends with the beginning of the Full Moon. Like everywhere, in Bali also, the festival continues for 15 days. Chinese New Year Celebration in Bali 2011 will also be marked by customs, rituals, family gathering, dinners, gift giving, shopping and many other things.

Preparation for the New Year

The preparation for the big occasion begins well in advance. As the year comes to close, the ethnic Chinese starts making preparation for the New Year. Chinese ethnics who are in to business, pay the old debts as well as collect the money that they lent. In Chinese tradition, it is considered vulgar to keep debts on the New Year. So, all debts are settled before this festival. The same trend is followed in Bali too. And, in 2011, this is not going to be any different.

Like in other parts of the world where Chinese New Year is celebrated, in Bali, also the houses are cleaned well before this festival. Cleaning, however, can not be done on this day as the common belief is that this would drive away good luck from the house. Another feature of preparation for the New Year is shopping. Since, on the actual day of the celebration, shops remain closed, so all the shopping should be completed prior to the New Year Day. In Bali, shops remain closed for 3 to 5 days during this festive occasion.

Gifts & Decorations

It is a common practice here to exchange gifts. The ethnic-Chinese join in the mad rush for buying. Some specially made food is also given as common gift. Sometimes, flowers are given as gifts. Flowers are considered auspicious. It is a common practice among the Chinese, residing in Bali, to decorate their homes with flowers during this holiday season. The same trend is likely to be followed in the Chinese New Year Celebration in Bali 2011.

Traditional Food and Showing Respect

Family members gather together on New Year Eve. This is followed by reunion dinner. Another feature of this occasion is showing respect to the elders and god. It is considered as an omen to prepare food on New Year’s Day. So dishes are prepared a day before the actual day. In Bali egg skin dumplings are prepared on this occasion. Dumpling is believed to bring good fortune to the family.

The Lantern Festival

The big occasion ends with the Lantern Festival. Chinese people carry decorated lanterns for the parade. A giant dragon is made with bamboo, paper and silk. Young people carry this dragon through the streets on this occasion.

Latest Updated on 14/12/2010