UNS – The 2025 Chinese New Year Festival, hosted by the Mandarin Language Center (PBM) or Confucius Institute (CI) at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, was celebrated with great festivity. Themed “The Sparkling Spirit of Happiness in the Year of the Snake,” the festival took place at the Broadway Atrium, The Park Mall Solo Baru, on Saturday (25/1/2025).
The event featured a diverse array of performances. It opened with a traditional dance performance titled Roro Ngigel, presented by students from the Traditional Arts Coordination Board (BKKT) at UNS. After welcoming remarks from university leaders and CI UNS representatives, the celebration continued with performances from the top three finalists of the Mandarin Song Singing Competition, chosen in earlier rounds. As a gesture of appreciation, prizes and certificates were awarded to the winners by Prof. Dr. Ir. Ahmad Yunus, M.S., the Head of the Confucius Institute at UNS.
A Chinese Calligraphy Demonstration
Additionally, the celebration also included a live Chinese calligraphy (Shufa) demonstration by 王先进 Wang Xiānjìn (Wang Sien Tjin), a Shufa expert from Bina Widya Solo Trilingual School. The demonstration was accompanied by the soothing sounds of the traditional Chinese instrument, the Guzheng, played by Ma Xiao Cheng, a native of China.
“Shufa is not just beautiful brush strokes; it’s full of meaning,” Wang Sien Tjin explained before starting the painting. “Without meaning, it would be mere decorative patterns. Shufa is far more than that.”
Dance Performances and Cultural Exhibitions
The celebration continued with performances by Aurenix, a dance group from the Mandarin Language and Chinese Culture (BMKT) undergraduate program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UNS. It was followed by another dance performance from Chizzy, a group of students from the Mandarin Language Diploma Program at the Vocational School (SV) UNS.
Meanwhile, attendees explored exhibitions showcasing Chinese handicrafts and participated in origami demonstrations by Andam Dewi. Visitors also had the opportunity to learn the art of Shufa and create their calligraphy. Many took the chance to have custom Shufa calligraphy featuring their names as personal keepsakes.
Barongsai and Liong: The Grand Finale
The event concluded with a special performance of Barongsai (Lion Dance) and Liong (Dragon Dance) by Tri Pusaka. Mall visitors filled the venue to watch the breathtaking acrobatics of the lion dancers. From the ground floor to the top levels, crowds were eager to witness the action. After the performance, many children joyfully posed for photos with the Barongsai, cherishing the moment as they experienced the vibrant celebration firsthand.
Humas UNS
Reporter: Dikky Yudi Pradana
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
