Jakarta, IO – Indonesian-Chinese residents in Ciamis perform a unique tradition ahead of Chinese New Year, namely bathing statues of gods at the Hok Tek Bio Temple, located on Jalan Ampera II.
The temple management has prepared a basin or red container filled with water and a sprinkling of rose petals to bathe the around 20 deity statues that adorn the altar, per Detikcom, Mon (5/2).
Their clothes were carefully removed and the layer of dust were cleaned using a brush before they were immersed and rinsed in the container. When they look clean enough, they were dried using towel.
“The aim of this tradition is to welcome the new year in a clean state,” said the temple caretaker Hidayat Kuswaya.
Hidayat hopes that this Chinese New Year will bring auspiciousness. “With regard to the general elections, hopefully the results will be satisfactory and we will welcome a new national leadership,” he said.
The names of the god statues included Hok Tek Cheng Sin, the resident god of the temple, as well as Wu Lu Cai Sen, Hian Thian Siang Tee, Fu Sen and Kwan Im Pau Sat.
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The temple also installed lanterns and candles donated by individuals or families of the faithful. It is said that by lighting candles during Chinese New Year celebrations, their lives will be brighter in the following year.
The size of the candle varies from the smallest, 25 catties, and the largest, 1,000 catties (1 catty equals to 6.25 ounces. (bp)