Ever since the ninth century when the ancient kingdom of Srivijaya became a flourishing trading power, and also an epicenter for Buddhism Chinese traders came to trade in Palembang, and the monks stayed here to study Sanskrit before moving in India, or on their travel home from India. Many settled within the city that throughout the hundreds of years the growing population, its own history and culture became a significant part of the city of Palembang. Afterward, in the communities were involved with the construction of KutoBesak fortress when she was the first constructed as the Sultan’s new palace.
With time, Chinese celebrations and religious commemorations have been introduced and accepted as part of the culture. Today is the annual highlight in the Chinese calendar will be Cap Go Meh, which took place 15 days after the Chinese New Year centering on the Island of Kamaro, or occasionally spelled Kamaru, situated midstream, off the vast Musi River delta where there are pagodas and Chinese temples. On this day, tens of thousands of ethnic Chinese in Palembang and about Indonesia, as well as from neighboring Singapore, Malaysia to Hong Kong and Taiwan collect on the island, arriving here by boat in Palembang city. There’s a legend about Kamaro that has several versions. According to one version, the island is proof and the symbol of love and loyalty of Princess Sati Fatimah, the daughter of King Srivijaya, to a Chinese prince.
At the fourteenth century, so the legend goes, Prince Tan Bun A came in Palembang to study. After living here for a while, he fell in love with Princess Siti Fatimah. He went to the palace to ask the king for her hand in marriage. The queen and king gave their approval to a condition that Tan Bun must present a present. Tan Bun a then sent a messenger back to China to ask his father for a present to be given to the King of Srivijaya. When the messenger returned with the pots preserved fruits and veggies, Tan Bun was amazed and enraged because he’d asked his father to send Chinese jars, gold, and ceramics.
In his anger he hauled ship’s cargo to the Musi River, unaware that his father had placed gold bars within the fruits and vegetables. Ashamed, after discovering his mistake, he tried to regain what he’d thrown into the lake. Tan Bun An, however, never returned as he drowned with the precious cargo. When Siti Fatimah heard about the catastrophe, the Princess hurried to the river and drowned herself to follow her fan, but not before Leaving a message saying: If you find a tree grows on a bit of property where I drown, it’ll be the shrub of our true love.
In the area where the prince drowned, a slice of earth appeared on the surface of the river. The locals believe that this island is the couple’s tomb and for that reason, they call it KamaroIsland, meaning that despite large tides from the Musi River, this island will probably remain dry. The local Chinese believe that their ancestor, Tan Bun An, lives on this island. Consequently, the island is always crowded during Chinese New Year.
Today, a spectacular Chinese temple, the HokCing Bio, stands. Constructed in 1962 he attracts many devotees. On special occasions, particularly on what Hokkien call the Cap Go Meh holidays, the island is full of locals and visitors coming from Palembang and overseas. There’s something magical about Kamaro Island. Witnessing the crowd on this particular event is an attraction alone. To reach the island, cross the river as everything may have been organized by the Chinese community. There are tongkangs, little boats called ketek, speedboats, and dragon boats. Find your very own place in a tongkang then walk along the walkways to find the graves of the mythical Tan Good Year and Siti Fatimah, or see Chinese cinema on the staircase. There’s also a show of Barongsai and Chinese rings. The event begins in the morning and lasts till midnight.
Naturally, with the flow of visitors to the island, the food vendors and people selling beverages, souvenirs, religious accessories, and even garments, secure their very your own spaces too to do what they do best: selling.
