Lombok celebrates Chinese New Year

Lombok is an island that boasts a variety of cultures and religions, all mingling together to create a fascinating blend of people, and resulting in a series of celebrations and festivals throughout the year.

The majority of the population of Lombok are the indigenous Sasak people, who practice a moderate form of Islam, often blended with old animist traditions and beliefs that existed on the island before the advent of organized religion. On the west coast and in the cities, live large communities of Balinese, whose predecessors settled in Lombok in the 17th century, and who still practice their colorful form of Hinduism. Communities of Arab settlers, Bugis seafarers, Christians from Flores and, of course, many Chinese whose families have settled throughout Indonesia over the centuries, all live together in harmony on this idyllic island.

On Jan. 26, Lombok's Chinese communities will be celebrating the Chinese New Year. These celebrations in Indonesia incorporate beliefs and practices brought to Indonesia by Chinese immigrants who still follow traditions handed down from their parents.

Chinese New Year (also called the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year) is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first New Moon in the Chinese calendar (Jan. 26) and ends on the 15th day (called the Lantern Festival), on Feb. 9.

As the Chinese year 2008 was signified as the "Year of the Rat", 2009 (or the year 4707 in the Chinese calendar), begins the "Year of the Earth Ox".

Last year Lombok was treated to a fantastic cultural performance to celebrate Chinese New Year. The celebration of Chinese New Year in itself was a unique event as, in the past under restrictive Indonesian laws, no Chinese celebrations or Chinese national holidays were acknowledged or allowed to be publicly celebrated. It is only since 2002 that Chinese New Year was officially declared a public holiday in Indonesia.

The event, organized by Sahara Restaurant & Club and The Lombok Guide, was originally planned to be a low-key inaugural celebration, featuring a dragon dance through the center of Senggigi. However, the event turned into much more - thanks to the amazing skills and performance of a little-known Barongsai or Dragon/Lion Dance troupe, based here in Lombok.

The Chinese New Year celebrations started on the beachfront at the Senggigi Beach Hotel, where the hotel was celebrating with a special Chinese buffet and New Year party. Guests were treated to a fantastic demonstration of traditional and modern Chinese martial arts, featuring some top athletes, all trained in Lombok. The highlight of the evening was the Lion Dance, performed by two agile and highly entertaining "lions", in a skilful display of athleticism and theater.

From the hotel, the Barongsai troupe progressed to Sahara Restaurant & Club in Senggigi Plaza, where a large crowd of local Indonesians, tourists and resident Chinese were waiting. There the crowd of around 100 were treated to another wonderful Lion Dance performance, accompanied by drumming and traditional music. Eager local Chinese fed traditional red envelopes containing money into the mouths of the hungry dragons, much to the delight of everyone watching. Chinese belief is that the Barongsai bring good luck on New Year and red envelopes are traditionally offered to the Barongsai when they visit.

From Senggigi Plaza, the parade continued to Senggigi Jaya Supermarket for more blessings and envelopes, and then proceeded along the main street of Senggigi, gathering a crowd of excited spectators who followed them to Restaurant Taman for another performance in front of surprised guests of the restaurant. The procession then danced and drummed their way to Square Restaurant in Senggigi Square, where another New Year celebration was taking place, before making their way back down the main street and home. All in all, it was a highly successful first-time celebration of Chinese New Year in Senggigi which brought a diverse range of people and cultures together!

This year, many of Lombok's hotels are planning celebrations and offering special accommodation packages to welcome Chinese New Year again. Be sure to check out the buffet theme dinners that will feature delicious Chinese foods and, hopefully, you'll be lucky enough to feed a friendly dragon or lion as it dances its way into the New Year.