Gov’t Calls for Simple Ways of Chinese New Year Celebration This Year
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has appealed to the public who will celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year to celebrate it virtually and in simple ways.
“I have talked to Confucian religious leaders and leaders of Indonesians of Chinese descent, expressing my hope that the upcoming Chinese New Year will be celebrated in a simple manner through virtual means,” Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said in a press conference at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Thursday (04/02).
The Chinese New Year celebration this year, he added, is different from those of previous years because it will be held in the midst of a global pandemic.
On behalf of the Government, Yaqut urged Confucians and communities of Chinese descent to make this year’s Chinese New Year a momentum to become better human beings and to pray for Indonesia and the world to be free from COVID-19 pandemic.
Echoing a similar sentiment, Minister of Health Budi G. Sadikin reiterated the message to celebrate Chinese New Year in new ways as a form of adaptation to the pandemic.
“Without reducing the meaning of the celebration, I’d like to invite Confucians and communities of Chinese descent to celebrate the Chinese New Year in a new way, together with our families at home, and through digital means,” Budi said, adding that the celebration should comply with health protocols.
“I wish you a happy Chinese New Year. I believe that the Chinese New Year celebration this year will remain full of joy and will bring new hopes and new fortunes for all Indonesian people and especially the Confucian and communities of Chinese descent,” Budi said.
In the meantime, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy also delivered his message for the Chinese New Year, urging that the celebration must comply with health protocols.
“On behalf of the Government, we wish you a happy Chinese New Year. We hope that the Almighty God will always protect us and free us from COVID-19 pandemic,” he remarked. (TGH/FID/UN) (RI/EP)