Every year, some people in West Kalimantan celebrate Ko Ciat Festival. In Hakka language, the term "Ko Ciat" means “Big Eating”.
Ko Ciat Festival is celebrated by Tionghoa Ethnic in West Kalimantan especially in Pontianak and Singkawang on the fifth day of the fifth month of Imlek or Yinli date. In Pontianak, they celebrate this event at Kapuas River. While, Tionghoa's people in Singkawang celebrate it at the river around there.
Originally, this event began from the death of Qu Yuan (340-278 SM), a big poet in Dinasti Chu's period when the war of Zhanguo Shidai countries happened (475-221 SM). Then, people who loved him made a food that wrapped with bamboo's leave, which known as Bacang. Next, they threw it to the river so that the body of Qu Yuan wasn't eaten by fish, they also placed the food at the side of the river so that Qu Yuan can come and get it. Last, there were people went along the river to looked for the body of Qu Yuan. Ko Ciat Festival was celebrated to remind the death of Qu Yuan and find his body. Actually, his body wasn't found until now.
Some traditions that usually held in Ko Ciat Festival are "Makan Besar", "Perahu Naga", Paper Lamp Party, and take a bath at the river. The tradition of "Makan Besar" is usually held in the evening and in the night.
Meanwhile, they took a bath at 11.00 a.m until 01.00 p.m. All of Tionghoa ethnic start from kids until the old people usually swim in Kapuas River. They swim and took the water of Kapuas River, that is called Wushi-sui water at twelve o'clock. This tradition is held to threw sadness and bad things.
Ko Ciat tradition is an old tradition that began from the Dinasti period and still exist until now. Chinese people are very appreciated their tradition.colorfulidea.blogspot.com
