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Indonesia to display longest ever dragon lantern during Chinese culture week

Xinhua, February 10, 2017 Adjust font size:

JAKARTA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) - Indonesia's longest-ever dragon lantern is scheduled to be paraded during Chinese Lantern Festival on Saturday in Singkawang, the West Kalimantan province, officials announced Friday.

The 178-meter dragon lantern was recognized by Indonesian record museum as the longest one that has ever been built in Indonesia.

"The dragon lantern is now on display at Singkawang Grand Mall. It would be paraded during Lantern Festival," Tourism Deputy Minister for Domestic Tour Marketing Esthy Reko Astuti said in a statement.

Making of the giant dragon lantern was initiated in October last year.

Asia's longest batik dragon will also be on display during the Chinese Culture Week event on Feb. 5-11.

Co-organizer of Singkawang Lantern Festival Andy Victorio said that hundreds of Tatungs are expected to enliven the upcoming event, displaying their resilience against sharp weapons pierced into their bodies.

Presence of Tatungs is an essential part of in Lantern Festival, symbolizing efforts to get rid of misfortune.

Andy also said some 20 foreign country ambassadors are expected to witness the parade. The parade itself would showcase cultural creations resulting from the mixture of Chinese culture with local ones.

Lantern Festival, which falls on Feb. 11 this year, is held to mark the first full moon of the new lunar year. It falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Endit