RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The yu sheng procession, according to the Indonesian Hakka Community, carries the meaning of wishing for abundant good fortune and family harmony.
"It has a very positive meaning. It's for good fortune, health, and family harmony. It's all associated with the Chinese community. The most popular ones are in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, and especially in China, it's held annually," said Jimmy S. Herlambang, a Hakka community representative and Chinese expert from the Hakka Museum, when met in Jakarta on Friday, January 30, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
Jimmy explained the yu sheng dishes are comprised of 10 or more vegetables such as carrots, radishes in various colors, purple cabbage, fruits like grapefruit, mango, fishes, seafood, and even golden-fried peanuts. This salad-like dish is also served with a dressing or sauce to enhance the flavor, namely plum sauce and aromatic oils to add sweet, sour, and savory flavors. The fish in this dish symbolizes abundant good fortune.
"Fish actually implies that there are leftovers, which means that the good fortune we receive throughout the year is still there at the end of the year, which means it's not gone, which means we'll have a large profit at the end of the year, and we'll still have money and wealth," he said.
Additionally, during this event, family members use chopsticks to mix the salad and lift them high. "It's said that the higher you raise them, the better your luck and harmony," he continued.
Since thousands of years ago, this tradition, which is practiced in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and China, was typically observed during the Chinese New Year and continued for 15 days after the Chinese New Year through Cap Go Meh.
He continued by saying that, in general, the Chinese begin planting crops in the spring, which starts on Chinese New Year. The Yu Sheng celebration also symbolizes gratitude to God and hopes for a successful farming season. ***
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