Boen Hian Tong Holds Cap Go Meh and Haul Gus Dur events
Citizen News 
The management of the Rasa Dharma Social and Cultural Association (Boen Hian Tong) after holding an event celebrating the 149th anniversary of Rasa Dharma, Cap Go Meh, as well as commemorating Gus Dur"s Haul. This event was attended by Boen Hian Tong Trustees and Advisors, interfaith figures who are members of FKUB, Pelita, Gusdurian and other invited guests.
Before the celebration event, an election was held for the Boen Hian Tong Bhakti Period 2025 – 2027 management. The formation team led by Yogo Pangemanan re-appointed Harjanto Halim as the elected Chairman of Boen Hian Tong.
This event was held at the Rasa Dharma Building, Jalan Gang Pinggir 31, Kranggan, Semarang, Sunday (16/02/2025). The celebration began with prayers led by Wenshe Oei Hui Ling alias Indriani Hadisumarto held at the main altar of the Rasa Dharma Building (Boen Hian Tong).
Among the ancestors prayed for in the prayer was former President of the Republic of Indonesia Abdurahman Wahid alias Gus Dur. Indeed, on the main altar there is Gus Dur"s saint, Ita Martadinata, along with the saints of other ancestors.
Chairman of the Boen Hian Tong Social and Cultural Association, Harjanto Halim, told the history of why there was a Gus Dur sect in Boen Hian Tong. The 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia has a special place in the hearts of the Chinese people. Gus Dur is highly respected, because he revoked Presidential Instruction No. 14 of 1967 which prohibited all activities related to Chinese people. In the New Order era, there was a break in the chain of Chinese culture among families from 1967 to 2000, that is, for 32 years.
Then in 2001, Gus Dur declared Chinese New Year a holiday for those who celebrate it and then in 2002, Former President Megawati declared Chinese New Year a national holiday. Gus Dur dared to revoke the intolerant Presidential Instruction and bury this important culture, so in 2004 he was crowned as the Father of Indonesian Chinese at the Tay Kak Sie Temple, Gang Lombok, Semarang.
For Chinese people, Gus Dur"s role is very large. Gus Dur always spoke about equality, without distinguishing between religious, racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Gus Dur was also active in defending the rights of the Peranakan Chinese.
"Because of Gus Dur"s services to tolerance of diversity in Indonesia, Boen Hian Tong honored him by making a Sinci or Lineage Board which was placed in a position of honor with the founders and previous chairman of Boen Hian Tong," explained Harjanto
Chairman of Boen Hian Tong Harjanto Halim, added that the sinci was a form of respect for Gus Dur from the Chinese community. Furthermore, Harjanto explained, Sinci is a wooden board inscribed with the names of deceased ancestors and placed on an altar of reverence. If you have been given a Sinci or genealogy, your name will of course always be prayed for by the Chinese community.
On Gus Dur"s sinci it is written in Hanzi script the sentence; ‘Yin Hua Zhi Fu, Fu Ruo Guo Zhi"” which means, “Father of Indonesian Chinese, Teacher of the Nation, Supporter of Minorities. “The easiest function of Sinci is to trace ancestral genealogy. Seeing the descent down to the earliest levels is easy. "Also, things about hobbies and what they like are also written," explained Harjanto.
The respect for Gus Dur was given in the form of Sinci because, continued Harjanto, for the Chinese, Gus Dur was considered to have removed restraints, pressure and prejudice. Gus Dur is also considered to have contributed to making all citizens equal. Gus Dur was tolerant and accepted differences.
"We want to honor Gus Dur"s good services when he was still alive. So Gus Dur was also prayed for by the Chinese like other ancestors. "We even commemorate every Gus Dur haul," said Harjanto.
The fun event was enlivened with musical entertainment by Lam Kwan Rasa Dharma, Stand Up Comedy and ended with a friendly meal and meal with Lontong Cap Go Meh
Before the celebration event, an election was held for the Boen Hian Tong Bhakti Period 2025 – 2027 management. The formation team led by Yogo Pangemanan re-appointed Harjanto Halim as the elected Chairman of Boen Hian Tong.
This event was held at the Rasa Dharma Building, Jalan Gang Pinggir 31, Kranggan, Semarang, Sunday (16/02/2025). The celebration began with prayers led by Wenshe Oei Hui Ling alias Indriani Hadisumarto held at the main altar of the Rasa Dharma Building (Boen Hian Tong).
Among the ancestors prayed for in the prayer was former President of the Republic of Indonesia Abdurahman Wahid alias Gus Dur. Indeed, on the main altar there is Gus Dur"s saint, Ita Martadinata, along with the saints of other ancestors.
Chairman of the Boen Hian Tong Social and Cultural Association, Harjanto Halim, told the history of why there was a Gus Dur sect in Boen Hian Tong. The 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia has a special place in the hearts of the Chinese people. Gus Dur is highly respected, because he revoked Presidential Instruction No. 14 of 1967 which prohibited all activities related to Chinese people. In the New Order era, there was a break in the chain of Chinese culture among families from 1967 to 2000, that is, for 32 years.
Then in 2001, Gus Dur declared Chinese New Year a holiday for those who celebrate it and then in 2002, Former President Megawati declared Chinese New Year a national holiday. Gus Dur dared to revoke the intolerant Presidential Instruction and bury this important culture, so in 2004 he was crowned as the Father of Indonesian Chinese at the Tay Kak Sie Temple, Gang Lombok, Semarang.
For Chinese people, Gus Dur"s role is very large. Gus Dur always spoke about equality, without distinguishing between religious, racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Gus Dur was also active in defending the rights of the Peranakan Chinese.
"Because of Gus Dur"s services to tolerance of diversity in Indonesia, Boen Hian Tong honored him by making a Sinci or Lineage Board which was placed in a position of honor with the founders and previous chairman of Boen Hian Tong," explained Harjanto
Chairman of Boen Hian Tong Harjanto Halim, added that the sinci was a form of respect for Gus Dur from the Chinese community. Furthermore, Harjanto explained, Sinci is a wooden board inscribed with the names of deceased ancestors and placed on an altar of reverence. If you have been given a Sinci or genealogy, your name will of course always be prayed for by the Chinese community.
On Gus Dur"s sinci it is written in Hanzi script the sentence; ‘Yin Hua Zhi Fu, Fu Ruo Guo Zhi"” which means, “Father of Indonesian Chinese, Teacher of the Nation, Supporter of Minorities. “The easiest function of Sinci is to trace ancestral genealogy. Seeing the descent down to the earliest levels is easy. "Also, things about hobbies and what they like are also written," explained Harjanto.
The respect for Gus Dur was given in the form of Sinci because, continued Harjanto, for the Chinese, Gus Dur was considered to have removed restraints, pressure and prejudice. Gus Dur is also considered to have contributed to making all citizens equal. Gus Dur was tolerant and accepted differences.
"We want to honor Gus Dur"s good services when he was still alive. So Gus Dur was also prayed for by the Chinese like other ancestors. "We even commemorate every Gus Dur haul," said Harjanto.
The fun event was enlivened with musical entertainment by Lam Kwan Rasa Dharma, Stand Up Comedy and ended with a friendly meal and meal with Lontong Cap Go Meh
