Chinese New Year Celebrations Are Limited For Buddhists In Lampung

Chinese New Year Celebration (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Buddhists in Bandar Lampung held a limited 2573 Lunar New Year's Eve worship amid the addition of COVID-19 cases in the area. Although the Chinese New Year's Eve worship is limited, it does not prevent the worship of the people.

"Doesn't get in the way, with the implementation of strict health protocols and restrictions on people entering alternately per 15 people, it helps people not to pile up in Bhaktisala because of COVID-19, we are also afraid of having physical contact with other people," said Ayen, one of the residents. the congregation was quoted from ANTARA.

"Tonight, we only came together with our children because the worship service at Bhaktisala is limited to 15 people," said one of the local Buddhists, Ayen, in Bandarlampung, Monday night.

At this Chinese New Year worship service this time, even though he was not with his extended family as in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, he still prayed solemnly.

"Tonight, we light the candles that have been installed here as a form of gratitude and to light the way for the new year. Incidentally, we were also asked to light candles belonging to relatives who could not attend the temple in person," he said.

The same thing was said by another Buddhist in Bandarlampung City, Stewart.

"It is limited to worship this time, usually full from 20.00 p.m. to 24.05 a.m. local time when the bell rings signaling the coming of the Chinese New Year, but now it is divided into 15 to 30 people alternately," he said.

During the Lunar New Year worship service amid restrictions due to COVID-19 this time, he continued to worship solemnly even though he was not with his family.

"Worship is still as usual, because nothing has changed, it's just that the implementation of the health protocol is stricter. Earlier in the prayer, there was also a hope that the COVID-19 pandemic would end quickly, and this year will be a year full of fortune," he said.

A number of temples in Bandarlampung City, such as Vihara Thay Hin Bio, Amurwa Bhumi Graha, and Bodhisattva, were decorated with hanging red lanterns and large candles that lit up Buddhists during the 2573 Chinese New Year's Eve worship at 24.00 a.m. People worship solemnly and apply strict health protocols.