- dok. Corbis
VIVAnews – The Chinese New Year celebration is only days ahead. The residents of West Kalimantan have been busy preparing dragon attraction.
The dragon attraction is very popular among Chinese residents and general public during the Chinese New Year celebration.
Akhiong, a 50-year old dragon maker, said that the process of making a dragon takes one month. He bought all kinds of materials to make the 40-meter long dragon.
The materials are as follows: 150 rattan sticks, 80 kg of paints, 40 meters of fabric, 2 bamboo sticks, 1 kg of glue and 6 sheets of sponge. He is assisted by three other men. Now, he said, finding rattan has been challenging.
“We are having a hard time finding rattan. The other materials are still easy to find. I used to watch people making dragon, but then I learnt from them and now I can make my own dragon. The process is very intricate if we don’t understand how to shape the dragon.” Akhiong told VIVAnews, today.
Akhiong said that he only received one dragon order this year, compared to last year's three.
“It's only one dragon this year. While last year I received many orders. Maybe the difficult economy has led to this situation,” he said.
He named the newly-made craft the Water Dragon, said Akhiong, because it is the water dragon year. The dragon will be displayed in Kubu Raya on Chinese New Year celebration.
The dragon ritual is believed to ward off evil spirits. West Kalimantan residents also believed that their fortune will improve this year. He said that Chinese residents believe that this year will be a great year.
“Water means soothing, and it brings bountiful fortune. The dragon is a great sign. Then, the great fortune is not just for the Chinese residents, but also for all West Kalimantan residents and the nation, of course,” said Akhiong.
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Coverage by: Aceng Mukaram | Pontianak
