Chasing the Biggest and Brightest Moon
The Mid-Autumn Festival also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival is a traditional festival celebrated in Chinese culture almost at par with its New Year. Similar festivals are also celebrated in other Asian and South East Asian countries though in different names. On this day, it is believed that the Moon is at its brightest and biggest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of autumn.
One such grand fiesta was celebrated in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on September 10 and hosted by most of the neighbours of China. The colorful activity climaxed with “Moon Chasing at Passionate Mid-Autumn” at night in which representatives from Kunming, Dehong, Jakarta and host members shared the beautiful scenery of the moon.
Li Malin, deputy governor of Yunnan Provincial People’s Government, extended festive greetings and best wishes to all the guests. Guests from Kunming, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival together with visitors from most neighbouring countries including India. The activity was jointly hosted by the Information Office of Yunnan Provincial People’s Government and the Foreign Affairs Office of Yunnan Provincial People’s Government, organized by Yunnan Branch of China News Service, and co-organized by Yunnan Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, South Asia and Southeast Asia Regional International Communication Center of Yunnan Province, Information Office of Dehong Autonomous Prefecture Government, Indo-Chinese Musicians and Chinese Singers Alliance and Indo-Chinese Writers Association. With the theme of “Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon, Lasting Affection Cross the Mountains and Seas”, the activities included Moon Worshipping, Moon Chasing at Passionate Mid-Autumn celebrations. The guests from different countries were over the moon during the festival.
Lu Kang, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia said that Yunnan and Bali are sister provinces, and Kunming and Yogyakarta (Indonesia) are sister cities. They have close exchanges and cooperation with each other in economic, trade, social and cultural fields, which has played a positive role in promoting the development of China-Indonesia relations. Djauhari Oratmangu, Ambassador of Indonesia to China and Mongolia also spoke on the occasion.