For many Chinese-Indonesians living overseas, Lunar New Year isn’t just a tradition – it’s a special way to stay connected to their roots. Even far from home, the locally-known Imlek or Sincia is all about honouring cultural values, keeping family traditions alive, and building a sense of community with fellow Indonesians abroad. But for younger generations, keeping that connection can be tricky. Now parents play a huge role, depending on how they use Bahasa Indonesia at home and encouraging their kids to embrace cultural practices.
Siauw Tiong Djin has spanned his professional career in communications engineering and moved to Australia from Indonesia in 1975. Though beyond that, he’s also a passionate activist for Indonesian Chinese politics and identity, a passion driven by his own family history. So how does Australia’s Indonesian diaspora celebrate Lunar New Year? And does it differ between generations?
Siauw Tiong Djin joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast about what it’s like celebrating Imlek in Australia, exploring the traditions, how they bring people together in a foreign land, and the challenges younger Chinese-Indonesians face when it comes to finding and holding onto their identity.
This episode is predominantly delivered in Bahasa Indonesia. A transcript is available online.
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