Mayor Of Gibran's Response To The Crowd At The Chinese New Year Celebration Center

Crowds seen at the Chinese New Year celebration center in Solo City, Sunday (30/1/2022) night. ANTARA/Aris Wasita

SOLO - Mayor of Surakarta, Central Java, Gibran Rakabuming Raka responded to the crowds that occurred at the center of the Chinese New Year celebrations, namely in the Pasar Gede area of Solo.

"It's okay (there is a crowd), I will close this later," said Gibran in Solo, as reported by Antara, Monday, January 31.

Regarding the crowd, Gibran said it happened in almost all places in various regions. Therefore, what needs to be considered is the health protocol.

"We're just being careful so that there's no traffic jam, the procedure is tight, the crowd is a little bit, it's okay as long as the masks are worn continuously," he said.

However, his party ensures that the Chinese New Year celebration center in Solo will not be closed to the public.

"It's not closed, this brings blessings to all. I have asked the Head of the Transportation Service to make traffic engineering," he said.

Previously, crowds were seen around the Pemandengan Monument and in the courtyard of the Surakarta City Hall on Sunday, January 30 evening. Hundreds of residents poured into the streets to enjoy and take selfies under the lanterns. Regarding the 2022 Lunar New Year celebrations, the chairman of the 2022 Surakarta Lunar New Year Committee, Sumartono Hadinoto, said that for this year the Chinese New Year celebrations in Solo were only held in a simple manner.

He said that when normally 5,000 lanterns are installed, this year only 1,000 lanterns are installed.

In addition, to simplify the series of activities held during the Chinese New Year, Grebek Sudiro has been omitted. Furthermore, the Cap Go Meh celebration which is usually attended by 1,000 participants, for this year will be reduced to only 200 participants.

"This year at Cap Go Meh there are only prayers, entertainment and lion dance," he said.