Cap Go Meh Carnival held in Jakarta

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Chinese community in the capital city Jakarta held a carnival to celebrate "Cap Go Meh". It marked the end of the Chinese New Year celebration here on Sunday.

Called Cap Go Meh Archipelago Cultural Carnival the event was attended by a number of national figures such as House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Chairman of the People Consultative Assembly, Zulkifli Hada, Chairman of the Regional Representatives Council Oesman Sapta and other invitees.

The carnival presented Chinese cultural shows as well as a cultural parade representing cultures from various parts of the archipelago such as Gotong Toenteng from across Indonesia, Koko and Cici (Chinese brother and sister), Barongsai (lion) and Liong (dragon) dances, marching band, Reog Ponorogo from East Java, indigenous Jakartan Ondel-ondel dance, Sisingaan from West Java and other cultural shows.

Peserta Cap Go Meh melakukan atraksi Liong saat mengikuti perayaan Cap Go Meh 2018 di Jalan Jatinegara, Jakarta, Ahad (4/3).

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"I praised the organizing committe that has presented the cultural shows from various parts of the archipelago and combined them with Chinese cultural shows. They are all parts of the country's cultural richness," House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo said.

"Seeing all the shows we have become aware of how great the Indonesian civilization is. The diversity in tge Indonesian arts and cultures is really a blessing for the Indonesian nation. They should become a uniting and not a dividing factor," he said.

To the Chinese community the politician from Golkar Party sent New Year and Cap Go Meh greetings and hoped the event would continue in the years to come.