Kelenteng Eng An Kiong: Celebrating Two Centuries of Tradition and Hope in the Lunar New Year 2576 (2025)

The Splendor of Eng An Kiong Temple in Malang

Damariotimes. The city of Malang, East Java, is preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year 2576 with great enthusiasm at Kelenteng Eng An Kiong, a historic building that has now reached its two-hundredth anniversary. This temple not only serves as a place of worship for its followers but also attracts tourists and draws the attention of the wider community.

Kelenteng Eng An Kiong, founded in 1825 by Kwee Sam Hway, is one of the well-preserved cultural heritage buildings. With its sturdy structure and original ornaments, this temple stands as a silent witness to nearly two centuries of history and tradition. The name "Eng An Kiong" carries a profound meaning, which translates to "the palace of safety in the eternity of God," reflecting the spiritual purpose of this place.

Rudi Phan, the Chairman of the Eng An Kiong Foundation, revealed that the series of activities to welcome the Lunar New Year will begin with the cleaning of statues on January 23-24, 2025. This annual tradition aims to honor and cleanse religious symbols before the celebration. "We hope that with this cleaning, the temple will be cleaner and purer to welcome the new year," he stated.

As the celebration approaches, on January 28, 2025, the temple's followers will perform the tradition of "melekan," which involves staying awake all night. This tradition is believed to bring abundant blessings in the new year. "This is an important moment for us to pray and hope for the best in the coming year," Rudi added.

On the day of the Lunar New Year celebration, January 29, 2025, worshippers will gather to pray at the temple, which serves as a center of worship for three faiths: Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. It is expected that many worshippers from outside Malang will come to pray and visit.

Additionally, the temple will host a Wayang Potehi performance on February 8-9, 2025. Although interest in this event has been declining, it remains a part of the tradition that the temple wishes to preserve.

The peak of the celebration will conclude with the Cap Go Meh event on February 12, 2025, where approximately 3,000 portions of lontong will be prepared for the local community. "We want to share happiness with the community, so we invite them to eat together here," Rudi concluded.

Kelenteng Eng An Kiong, with its red color symbolizing life and happiness, and yellow representing grandeur, stands as a symbol of hope and courage for its followers. With a variety of activities prepared, Kelenteng Eng An Kiong is ready to welcome the Lunar New Year 2576 with joy. Let us witness and participate in this two-century-old tradition and celebrate the cultural diversity that exists in Indonesia. May this new year bring new hopes, health, and blessings for us all.

Reporter: R.Dt.

Editor: H.Gum