It's also marking the end of the winter season and moving on to the spring season.
The Lunar New Year doesn't have a fixed date on our calendar, but usually fall in the month of January or February. This year the Lunar New Year was celebrated on January 31st.
The Chinese in Indonesia celebrated it with going to the temple on the New Year's eve to pray.
The Kwan Im Temple located in 10 Ulu is one of the oldest Chinese temple in Palembang. Every New Year's eve the temple is more crowded than any other days and the decoration make it looks very different and feel like it's somewhere abroad.
I also try my best to go to the temple every New Year's eve, because I don't go to temple a lot. I'm such a sinner ^^;
Here's a few pictures from the Kwan Im Temple.
 |
| A stroll in this parking lot, then you'll reach the temple. |
 |
| More larger area of the parking lot. The smoke came from the giant incense being burnt at the very far end of the land/dock, facing the Musi River. |
 |
| The quest of blessing started right here. |
 |
| Interior of the temple. |
 |
| Super giant incense were placed and burnt right at the edge of the dock facing the Musi river. |
The celebration of the Lunar New Year is different in each places, including in Indonesia. Usually the celebration last for 15 days. In China, people take day-off from their jobs for a full 15 days, sometimes even more. In Indonesia only the very first day of the Lunar New Year is accounted for the National Holiday. This year is extra special because it was landed on Friday therefore, it became a long weekend holiday (yay!).
In Palembang itself, we usually decorated our house, preparing foods & drinks for guests who came visiting our house. Because of this, a day or two days before the New Year was the busiest day.
Usually on the first day, people go visit their family & relatives, on second day they go visit their friends & co-workers. In my case, most of my family & relatives live outside Palembang, we simply just welcoming guests at our house on the first day. Most of the guests are my parents' friends, business related friends, and some (very) extended family. On the second day, I went to some friends' houses and then they visited my house too.
It's a different experience as you know, not everyday you get a bunch of people to visit your house. Lol.
