Imlek in Parakan Church: A Solid Proof of Unity

TheIndonesia.id - Recently, I was very fortunate to attend the Chinese Lunar New Year service at Gereja Katolik Keluarga Kudus, or The Holy Family Catholic Church, located on Jalan AIP Mungkar in Parakan, Temanggung, Central Java.

As someone born in this 'intersection city'—yes, Parakan serves as a gateway to the highlands and tourist destinations like the Dieng Plateau, Wonosobo, Borobudur Temple, Ketep Pass, and Kledung Pass, while also connecting to major cities such as Yogyakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, and Jakarta—I feel that this mass service stands as a testament to how the concept of 'unity in diversity' is genuinely practiced in daily life, including in matters of religion.

For those of us familiar with life in Parakan, this might not come as a surprise. But for those who have never heard of this small town nestled at the foot of the twin mountains, Sindoro and Sumbing, this church service serves as a reflection: a solid proof of how the diversity of the town unites its people to this day.

The main road of Parakan, Jalan Raya Parakan-Wonosobo, is flanked by Chinese shop houses that stretch all the way to a famous local eatery called Rumah Makan Bu Carik. Behind them, stretching toward the riverbank of Kali Galeh, are enclaves of Javanese residences, known as kampung or villages. Mosques and langgar (local term for small mosques) are scattered throughout these areas, including several cemeteries.

Further along, larger Chinese shop houses line regional roads, while wealthier, well-known Chinese merchants reside on smaller streets alongside their ancestral homes.

This mix of places is already a unique feature. Take Jalan AIP Mungkar in Parakan Wetan, for example. Within walking distance, you’ll find the old train station and the dilapidated railway crossing over Kali Galeh, two churches almost directly opposite each other, the cultural heritage building Gedung Kawedanan Parakan (the former District Office), and just a few meters to the right, a Chinese temple called Klenteng Hok Tek Tong.

This harmony is palpable during the Imlek or Chinese New Year mass that I attended.

The priest’s sermon is delivered in Bahasa Indonesia, with some local Javanese expressions, including anecdotes that reflect both Chinese and Javanese cultures. Sometimes, these stories may not lead to the same conclusions, but the underlying religious beliefs offer a unifying and enlightening perspective. Hymns of praise are sung in Indonesian, and several songs are performed in Chinese.

At the end of the service, the priest gives blessings in front of crates of mandarin oranges. These will be distributed to all the attendees at the main entrance, along with mini kue keranjang or nian gao—a sweet treat made from glutinous rice flour and brown sugar. In Chinese belief, this symbolizes unity within family members, harmony, persistence, and serves as a magnet to attract prosperity.

Next, the children and singles, including the priest, receive red envelopes, or ang pao.

As has become an unwritten tradition since I was a child, after the church service and a brief prayer at Mother Mary's grotto, the pilgrims head toward the nearby hawker stalls. Some sell Chinese-style snacks, while others offer local foods.

This time, though, I didn’t gather with the others in front of the church. Instead, I walked toward the old broken railway to enjoy Gudeg Galeh Mbak Iin, a branch of the famous Gudeg Galeh Bu Marsih located across  the old train station.

To my surprise, I had expected the place to be less crowded on the weekend. But I was wrong! Many of the people I had seen at the church were heading in the same direction.

So here I was: enjoy one of Parakan’s signature nasi gudeg dishes. As I savoured the harmonious blend of savoury and sweet flavours, I could clearly see: among the customers celebrating Chinese New Year, they were also enjoying local flavours. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t Chinese food. Everything was in balance. In unity. That’s the authentic Parakan vibe!