Dragon puppets undergo eye-opening ritual ahead of Cap Go Meh in Pontianak

Several dragon puppets are ready to take action at the shining dragon festival on Feb. 12, 2025 ahead of the Cap Go Meh celebration in Pontianak City, including at the Kwan Tie Bio temple on Diponegoro Road in Pontianak City, West Kalimantan Province on Feb. 10, 2025.

Pontianak Cap Go Meh Festival Committee Head Hendry Pangestu Liem said that only 10 dragon puppets performed the eye-opening ritual at the Kwan Tie Bio temple, while the other 29 dragon puppets were brought to pay their respects at the temple and to the invited guests.

"There are 39 dragon [puppets] in total, the dragon [puppets] visit each donor after finishing the [eye-opening ritual]," he explained.

Hendry stated that dragon puppets opening their eyes for the ritual illustrates a request for permission from the ancestors, o bring about blessings and hopes, as well as to expel negative energy to hope for a Chinese New Year full of goodness and good fortune.

"Every location or place passed by the dragon [puppets] which have opened their eyes are believed to have been provided positive energy," he explained.

After the eye-opening ritual, the 39 dragon puppets will be shown off for dances at the Shining Dragon Festival on Gajahmada Road. Then the dragon puppets will undergo a ritual burning at the Bhakti Suci Foundation yard on Feb. 13, 2025.