KOTA KINABALU – The Lunar Chinese New Year is celebrated once a year by the Chinese community all over the world.
In Sabah, it is also celebrated by the Dusun Tatana people of Kuala Penyu, one of the many sub-ethnic groups of the Kadazandusun people.
The Dusun Tatana community considers Chinese New Year to be its main annual celebration, and thus partakes in all its traditions, from big family dinners to performing ancestral worship at home or at temples.
They typically also practise Chinese customs, including wearing lucky red garments and gifting lucky red packets to singletons.
Fireworks and firecrackers are set off to usher in good luck and drive away evil spirits.
Local lion dance troupes also visit homes without fail every year to offer their lucky blessings, with a tour around the property in exchange for a lucky red packet, before moving on to the next home.
This is typically followed by festive visits on the second day to the homes of friends and relatives, to celebrate Chinese New Year with them.
However, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government’s decision to extend the movement control order and disallow inter-district travel this year has prevented many Dusun Tatana people living and working outside the district from travelling to Kuala Penyu to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Rose, a sales executive working in Kota Kinabalu, said this year was the first time that she could not go back to see her family in Kuala Penyu.
“I feel a bit sad that I cannot go back to visit my family back in Kuala Penyu. I miss the festive atmosphere during Chinese New Year.
“We would wear red clothes and also give out red packets to the children and those still single. We would put up festive decorations and have a big feast on the first day; and have another on the last day of Chinese New Year, which is Chap Goh Mei.
“But I understand it is better not to go back this year due to health and safety reasons,” said Rose.
Eric, another Dusun Tatana who lives and works in Kota Kinabalu and who managed to celebrate Chinese New Year in Kuala Penyu this year, said the Chinese New Year’s celebrations in the district were the quietest for him in memory.
“Families here are just celebrating in their respective homes. It’s not as merry as before due to the government’s restrictions.
There was no visiting of homes by outstation friends to celebrate, and no large celebrations with relatives coming back from other districts in Sabah.
He said that during Chinese New Year in Kuala Penyu, lorries would normally carry Chinese lion dance groups from house to house, but the sight was missing this year as it was not allowed by the government.
“Even the number of people are limited to only 15 per household. So it’s almost like a normal weekend day,” he said.
He said many who would traditionally travel back for Chinese New Year found the many restrictions put in place this year, such as applying for a permit from the police and so on, too troublesome.
“To go back would incur additional costs including getting tested for Covid-19 and being subjected to a second round of testing coming back to Labuan. It’s just not worth it.” – The Vibes, February 18, 2021
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