Cap Go Meh Celebration

Cap go meh celebration. A girl is praying for GOD blessing. Photo courtesy by Denny Sihotang

Cap Goh Meh celebrations in Singkawang usually marked by the procession of the Tatung to monasteries or temple. Celebration was believed to have carried from generation to generation since 200 years ago. The Tatung come from various monasteries that spread throughout Singkawang, therefore not be surprised if Singkawang also earned the nickname of a thousand temples. In the monastery or pagoda 1 sometimes consisting of more than 1 person Tatung.

In the morning on this 15th day, the Tatung will gather for prayers to Heaven in a prepared altar. The Tatung travel on a stretcher with the palanquin of repose sharp sword or a sharp nail, while showing off her body immunity. There is also a sword upstairs, usually consisting of 36 or 72 shoulder / stairs. The more could go up the more powerful means Tatung is also science. This activity has started to be developed as an object of tourism to attract domestic and foreign tourists.

Do you what is Tatung here?
Tatung in the Hakka language is a person who was possessed by a god or ancestral spirit. Body or bodies in which the person is used as a communication tool or an intermediary between the spirit of the ancestors or gods. By using a particular Mantra and Mudra spirit of god was called to the altar and would enter the person's body.

The gods or ancestral spirits used to be called with a particular interest, for example, to conduct activities or seek advice treatment deemed necessary. Most of the spirit gods summoned to activities related Taoist beliefs, among other treatments, the expulsion of evil spirits, making Hu, and others. Having completed the activities carried out, the spirit will leave the body of the person.

In China, tradition Tatung extinct, while the regions in Indonesia that still have this tradition is the West Kalimantan and Bangka Belitung.