Thousands Join Seven-Yearly Peranakan Cultural Parade in Tangerang

RRI.CO.ID, Tangerang - The Chinese Peranakan (Straits-Born Chinese) cultural heritage took center stage in Tangerang City, Banten Province, on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The Cultural Parade and Ruwat Bumi (Earth cleansing ritual) festivities drew thousands of residents to the streets.

The parade featured 90 joli, sacred palanquins used to carry statues of deities, winding through major thoroughfares of the city led by Tangerang Mayor, Sachrudin.

The event was held to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of Sijet Tjie Thien Ta Sen Bio, also known as Vihara Dhamma Budhi Bhakti or Tjie Thien Ta Sen Bio Temple in Tangerang. Participants traveled from across the region, with delegations coming from as far as Jakarta and Palembang.

Founder of Vihara Dhamma Budhi Bhakti, Benny Susanto, said this year’s Cultural Parade and Ruwat Bumi brought together dozens of sacred joli from various regions. The participating temples and viharas came from outside Tangerang, including Jakarta, Bogor, Karawang, Sukabumi, Semarang, and Palembang.

“For the past few days, we have been celebrating the temple’s anniversary, which is closely associated with the deity Sun Goh Kong in Tangerang City. The highlight of this Kirab Budaya and Ruwat Bumi is the procession of sacred joli that everyone witnessed today,” he said on Sunday.

The Cultural Parade and Ruwat Bumi has become a much-anticipated tradition among locals, as it is held only once every seven years. Benny noted that public enthusiasm was evident from the crowds lining the entire parade route.

“The turnout was extraordinary. Thousands of people spilled onto the streets from end to end, eager to witness this seven-yearly parade. We hope this event can continue to be preserved and bring blessings for the welfare of Tangerang City residents,” he said.

Organizers from Vihara Dhamma Budhi Bhakti expressed hopes that the next edition, in seven years’ time, could be held on an even larger scale. They are targeting the future parade to feature joli from neighboring countries.

Beyond its role as a community tradition, the Kirab Budaya and Ruwat Bumi is also seen as a cultural tourism attraction. The event serves as a platform to introduce the richness of Chinese Peranakan culture in Tangerang to a wider audience.

Head of Tangerang City’s Culture and Tourism Agency, Boyke Urif Hermawan, said the parade’s vibrancy also drew visitors from outside the city. In addition to the dozens of joli, various traditional art performances were paraded around the city.

“The parade was very lively. Dozens of joli palanquins and cultural art performances were paraded around the city, witnessed directly by thousands of visitors who came not only from within the city but also from outside Tangerang,” he said. (Annaila Azzahra-EN)