VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Jakarta Provincial government is, this year, celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year for the first time by organizing three weeks of festivities in the country’s capital Jakarta. The events that include the classic Barongsai lion dances, traditional Potehi puppet show and food festivals at several touristy Chinatowns, were launched on January 15, are scheduled to end on February 9, the Jakarta Mental and Spiritual Bureau Office's chief, Hendra Hidayat said in Jakarta, Wednesday.

After days of festivities welcoming the Year of the Rat, the "Festival Pecinan Cap Go Meh" on February 8 will mark the last day of Lunar New Year or popular as Cap Go Meh.

The celebrations will take place in Jakarta's Chinatowns, including at Petak Sembilan in West Jakarta, Kampung Duri in West Jakarta, and Jatinegara in East Jakarta.

"We would like to bring the spirit and experience of celebrating Lunar New Year to the public spaces in Jakarta. For us, the Lunar New Year is about equality, harmony, and solidarity," Hidayat remarked while citing that the Jakarta provincial government aims to create a city that welcomes everyone regardless their cultures, races, and religions.

Therefore, during the Lunar New Year celebration, some Chinese ornaments will be draped at MRT stations and Transjakarta bus stations.

Here is the list of event in Jakarta during the Lunar New Year:

1. January 15, 2020 to February 5, 2020: Chinese Food Festival at Thamrin 10 Park in Central Jakarta;

2. January 23, 2020 (showtime 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.): A classic Barongsai lion dance; a traditional Tanjidor and Gambang Kromong music performances in front of Grand Hyatt Hotel and Dukuh Atas skating park in Central Jakarta.

3. January 24, 2020 (showtime p.m. to 7:00 p.m.): A classic Barongsai lion dance; a traditional Tanjidor and Gambang Kromong music performances in front of Grand Hyatt Hotel and Dukuh Atas skating park in Central Jakarta.

4. January 25, 2020: A classic Barongsai lion dance in Thamrin 10 Park in Central Jakarta;

5. January 26, 2020: A classic Barongsai lion dance in Car Free Day Sudirman to Thamrin streets, Central Jakarta;

6. January 26, 2929: Potehi puppet show at Thamrin 10 Park, Central Jakarta;

7. February 3, 2020 to February 9, 2020: Bakmi (Chinese noodle soup) festival at Thamrin 10 Park, Central Jakarta.

8. February 8, 2020: Festival Pecinan Cap Go Meh at Petak Sembilan, Kampung Duri, and Jatinegara. (ANTARA)