Traditional Celebration of Tumbilotohe in Gorontalo

Traditional Celebration of Tumbilotohe

Tumbilitohe derives from Gorontalo language, tumbilo means set and tohe means lamps. Therefore, Tumbilotoho means setting lamps. Historically, it has been celebrated by Gorontalo people since the 15th century. It is usually done on the last three days of Ramadhan month (Fasting month), 27th – 30th of Ramadhan, started from maghrib (6 p.m.) until subuh (4 a.m.).

In the past, it was intentionally aimed for lightening Muslims to distribute Islamic tithe at night. At the time, lightening alliances were made of resin torch and latex. Considering that the stock for resin torch decreased time by time, they had ever turned to padalama (coconut oil) then turned to petroleum.

As the time goes by, now Gorontalo people tend to use modern lamps but some of them prefer to use the petroleum lamps. Those petroleum lamps are hung on every beam decorated by young coconut leaves. Banana, as the symbols of prosperity, are also found on the top of those lamps and also sugar cane as the symbols of sweetness, cordiality and the glory of Eid El-Fitr. This tradition has a distinctive attractive power for the local inhabitants and surrounding people living in Manado, Palu and Makassar.

Gorontalo City turns into a glittering city when the tradition of Tumbilotohe takes place. Every part of public service buildings such as local government office, mosques, even football yard, is decorated by colourful lamps. Moreover, farmlands and empty land are also full of flickering lamps which are painted with beautiful mosque, calligraphy and Al Qur`an pictures.
 

This three-day celebration is more interesting when the attraction of bunggo (bamboo cannons) is played by children competing each other. All of those bamboo cannons are faced to the people`s homes, proposed to awaking the people for having sahur (the meal eaten before daybreak during the fasting month).  By such atmosphere, you will feel its religious nuance and strong solidarity of surrounding people.

Traditional Celebration of Tumbilotohe Location

Tumbilotohe is in the city of Gorontalo, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia. It can be reach by land, water and air transportations. For you living in Sulawesi Island, you can take any public transportation but for you who are outside Sulawesi Island, you must take either water or air transportations. There are two harbours in Sulawesi Island, Gorontalo Harbour and Anggrek Kwandang Harbour in the district of Gorontalo. In addition, for air transportation, there is an airport in the sub-district of Tibawa, Gorontalo District about 35 km from Gorontalo City. There are many supporting facilities such as hotels, restaurants, worship places, car rentals, and communication devices.

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Kampong Gedong: China Town in Bangka Island

Kampong Gedong is an old china town that is settled by 50 Chinese families. The first generation of Chinese people migrated to Bangka Island and worked as tin miners. Most of Chinese people in Bangka Island are traders. Some of them produce typical foods of Bangka Island such as chips, kemplang, getas, etc.

In Kampong Gedong, you will see Chinese people‘s tradition that is kept-well from a century ago. Historically, Chinese people living in kampong Gedong are descendants of six bosses holding local tin mining factories in Parit 6 area – Liuk Phun Thew (hakka dialect).

Kampong Gedong usually becomes a place for celebrating Imlek, Peh Cun, and Qing Ming. On those celebrations, there is a figure symbolizing the guardian of kampong Gedong named Sun Go Kong (Sun Wu Gong).

Since 2000, Kampong Gedong has been established as village tourism destination. This decision was drawn because of numerous ethnic Chinese buildings and Chinese traditions that are kept well for hundred years.

In Kampong Gedong, you will see antique wooden houses standing in a row decorated with Chinese ornaments and Han Zi calligraphy. Likewise, there are worship place and a China temple that is assumed as the residence of kampong Gedong‘s guardian.

Those buildings and the green surrounding nature offers you exotic view as well as the movies in the 1940s. Such views remind us to some other old towns such as Penang, Malacca, and China Town in Singapore.

Kampung Gedong Location

Kampong Gedong lies about 53 kilometers aways from Sungailiat. The kampong is 14 kms away from Behinyu. The kampong lies 90 kms north of Pangkalpinang. The kampong is located in Kampong Gedong, Lumut Village, Belinyu Sub-district, Bangka District, Bangka Belitung Islands. In Kampong Gedong, you can find lodgements, hotels, food stalls, and China temple. 

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