Berikut terjemahan teks sejarah perayaan Cap Go Meh di Padang tahun 2025 ke dalam bahasa Inggris:

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**The History of Cap Go Meh Celebration in Padang – 2025**

The **Cap Go Meh 2025** celebration in the city of Padang was held with great enthusiasm and festive spirit. As the peak of the **2576 Kongzili Chinese New Year** celebration, this year’s Cap Go Meh once again showcased rich Chinese cultural traditions while strengthening the spirit of tolerance and diversity among the multiethnic communities of West Sumatra.

The main event took place on the **15th day after Chinese New Year**, precisely on **February 23, 2025**, centered in **Kampung Cina (Chinatown), Padang**, which is a historic and cultural hub for the Chinese-Indonesian community in the region. Thousands of people—from Chinese-Indonesian citizens to members of various other ethnic groups—filled the main streets to witness the iconic **sipasan panjang (giant dragon parade)**, a key highlight of Padang’s Cap Go Meh tradition.

The **sipasan panjang**, also known as the dragon dance, symbolizes luck and the driving away of evil spirits in Chinese culture. In the 2025 celebration, a massive dragon stretching up to **30 meters long** was brought to life by dozens of performers and traditional Chinese musicians, dancing energetically and rhythmically along the parade route. The procession started from the Budhi Bhakti Temple, passed through Klenteng Street and Old Klenteng Street, and ended in the Chinatown area with a cultural performance.

In addition to the dragon dance, the celebration featured **barongsai (lion dance), liong (smaller dragon dance), kung fu demonstrations, a lantern parade, and a cultural food bazaar** serving a fusion of Chinese and Minangkabau dishes such as bakcang (sticky rice dumplings), kue keranjang (sticky rice cake), and rendang tofu. These festivities attracted both local and international tourists and served as a platform for cultural exchange and unity.

Cap Go Meh 2025 in Padang also included an **interfaith prayer session** and performances by multiethnic art communities, reinforcing the city’s commitment to peace and diversity.

This year’s celebration marked a significant moment in Padang’s Cap Go Meh history, supported by both the public and local government. The values of mutual cooperation and cultural preservation became the core messages, passed down from generation to generation, reinforcing cultural identity and social harmony in the heart of Minangkabau land.