PONTIANAK - Cap Go Meh Festival committee in 2023 said the 15th day celebration on the Chinese New Year calendar is ready to be held in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, with attractions and games of 26 dragon replicas and 20 lion dances both during the day and at night.
"Activities will start tomorrow morning. A total of 26 dragons will 'open their eyes' and also the lion dance that pays tribute to the Kwan Tie Bio temple on Diponegoro Street," said Head of the Cap Go Meh 2023 Festival Committee Pontianak City, Hendry Pangestu Lim to reporters quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, February 2.
He said the dragon and lion dance performed the "open-eye" ritual on Friday (3/2) at 07.00 WIB. Followed by processions around the culinary exhibition location which has been opened by Pontianak Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono since Monday, January 30.
The dragon and lion dance then appeared again at the peak of the Cap Go Meh Festival on Sunday, February 5, which was divided into two sessions. The first session was 12.30 WIB to 16.30 WIB. Then the second session was at 19.30 WIB to 22.30 WIB.
"The event is the same, attractions and games. The difference between day and night is that there are lights, shining dragons," he added.
In addition, he added that SOE Minister Erick Thohir is scheduled to attend the Cap Go Meh Festival on the stage prepared by the committee, Sunday at 14.00 WIB. The Minister of SOEs was invited by parties outside the committee to come to Pontianak.
Minister Erick Thohir is also scheduled to visit Singkawang City after an event at Tanjungpura University (Untan) on Saturday, February 4.
"He took a helicopter to Singkawang. And will only be present at the Cap Go Meh stage in Pontianak Sunday afternoon," he said again.
Meanwhile, regarding the tatung attraction, Hendry stated that the committee did not prepare a tatung attraction to appear at the Cap Go Meh Festival in Pontianak.
"We are only preparing for the Cap Go Meh festival, welcoming foreign guests and tourists are 26 dragon and 20 lion dances. That's what we prepared in Pontianak," he said.
Even if there is a tatung attraction (Chionghoa shaman) then it is beyond the committee's authority. Then if there are people or tourists who want to watch the tatung attraction, they invite them to go to Singkawang City.
"We share with Singkawang. Jagonya tatung there. As for Pontianak, we from the committee prepare a dragon and lion dance. It has been around for years," he said again.
The Cap Go Meh 2023 Festival series in Pontianak ended after the burning of a dragon on Monday, February 6 afternoon at the Holy Bhakti Cemetery, Sungai Raya District, Kubu Raya Regency.
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