Let's Take a Peek at Making Chinese New Year Candles in Kapuk Muara

Red candles are one of the objects that are synonymous with Chinese New Year celebrations. Chinese people believe that candles have the meaning of being a light to live life for the next year.

The prices for these red candles vary

In Jakarta, there are still home-based industries that produce candles in various colors and sizes. One is PT Sumber Makmur Cemerlang located on Jalan Kapuk Kencana, Blok C, Kapuk Muara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

From the outside, this industry, which was founded in 2019, does not look like a factory. However, you will see rows of red candles in various shapes when you enter inside.

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Candle Business Owner, Supardi admitted that in a day, he can make tens to thousands of candle sticks of various sizes. Starting from small sizes of one catty to 1,000 catties with a height of two meters, this jumbo-size candle can even burn for up to six months.

"The prices for these red candles vary, different sizes have different prices. Starting from Rp 20,000 to Rp 20 million," he said, Friday (2/9).

He explained candle production uses very simple methods and materials. As an initial stage, the paraffin wax raw material (powder) is put into a drum at a high temperature to be melted.

After being cooked and mixed with special wax dye, the liquid is put into a tube-shaped mold and then left to harden (cool).

"The cooling process for small candles can take up to one hour and two or three days for jumbo size," he explained.

After being released from the mold and given hemp thread for the wick, these red candles are wrapped in plastic mica with Chinese writing. All raw and auxiliary materials used in the candle production process come from within the country and are pure without used wax waste.

"Production sales are still around Jakarta. We send them to shops selling religious equipment for Confucians. We also accept orders according to our capabilities," he added.

According to him, this business, which started from small to quite large, had already recruited 10 workers. During big holidays such as Chinese New Year or Christmas, demand will increase, so his company often recruits additional staff.

So, he hoped, production of these candles could increase in order to recruit more workers. Every candle produced is believed to have life and a positive aura.

"That's why, the production is processed in a calm and happy mood, so everyone who enjoys this candle is filled with blessings," he closed.