Today
Jakarta
- 29 °C
Other Publications
Vegetable porridge helps Kauman community stick together
Slamet Susanto , The Jakarta Post , Bantul, Yogyakarta | Fri, 09/26/2008 11:01 AM | Java Brew
Members of the Kauman mosque congregation in Wijirejo, Bantul, Yogyakarta, serve up lodeh in preparation to break the fast during Ramadan. (JP/Slamet Susanto)
Enjoying takjil, the sweet snacks eaten upon breaking the fast, for the Kauman community in Wijirejo, Bantul, Yogyakarta isn't just a means by which to end the fast.
For the Kauman community, eating takjil to break the fast is a tradition that has been handed down for more than 100 years. It is also a way of maintaining community cohesion.
Every afternoon during Ramadan, as many as 50 Kauman kampong children and teenagers, together with the takmir (mosque committee), enjoy takjil to break the fast together with a menu consisting of lodeh (a type of vegetable porridge cooked in coconut milk).
"Ever since I can remember, this tradition has been here," said Zuhrowi, 52, a resident of Kauman.
Zuhrowi said he didn't know exactly when the tradition started and even his parents said this had been the tradition when they were young.
Based on an old story, eating lodeh as takjil began with Kanjeng Panembahan Bodho (Raden Trenggono), who undertook religious deeds in the 15th century.
Haryadi, a Kauman community leader, said during that period this type of food was an expensive meal for the community. To ensure that the community would come together, every afternoon Raden Trenggono had gathered the people while he distributed food.
"While people ate together, Panembahan Bodho performed his religious deeds," said Haryadi.
Religious deeds were conducted through the community, which at the time was largely based on Hindu culture.
Panembahan Bodho and his Muslim followers were known to live peacefully and with mutual respect for the traditions of the surrounding communities.
The tolerant nature of these Muslims can be seen from the architecture of the Kauman mosque, which is still linked to Hindu culture. In front of the mosque at the main entrance is a sun clock that was a symbol of the Hindu period.
Side by side with the sun clock there is a watu gilang, the place where the footwear of Penambahan Bodho was removed when he performed wudhu (ritual ablution before prayers).
In 2002, after consulting many books on cohesive living, the community wrote a short history of Kanjeng Penembahan Bodho (Raden Trengono). Apart from spreading local historical knowledge, the undertaking was also meant to help preserve the culture they had inherited.
Apart from working to preserve their tradition, breaking the fast with lodeh was also maintained to improve the sense of togetherness of the community.
"We have lived harmoniously in an atmosphere of togetherness for a long time, and that has kept going till now," said Zuhrowi.
Zuhrowi, who has been a lodeh cook for more than 25 years, said the raw materials (rice and vegetables) to make the lodeh for breaking the fast were all donated by people from the surrounding communities.
The communities also voluntarily donated sugar for sweet tea to be enjoyed with the lodeh.
"As a normal routine we have three people who do the cooking. But everyday there are one or two community members who always volunteer to help," said Zuhrowi.
Volunteering is another way that community members maintain their sense of unity and togetherness.
"For 11 months, community members are busy with their respective activities and the sense of togetherness is ignored. But during Ramadan, the time is right to return to that feeling of cohesion," he said.
Every afternoon, children and teenagers gather in the mosque to break their fast. While they wait, some perform sholawatan (ritual prayers) and others follow pengajian (group readings of the Koran).
This year, however, has seen one tradition lost -- namely children playing with long bumbung, or fireworks made from a bamboo tube and carbide gas.
"The long bumbung have disappeared. Children would be scolded by their mothers if they did this, because kerosene (also used in the fireworks) is so difficult to get now and can't be wasted on games. The community is facing difficulties in obtaining kerosene," said Zuhrowi.
Up till now the atmosphere of togetherness has been strongly maintained in Kauman. After sholat Ied (a community prayer), community members follow the tradition of paying mutual visits to relatives and neighbors, which is known as silaturrahim.
In the afternoon the community stages artistic performances, such as dances and recitals.
The community works together to help cook opor ayam (chicken cooked in coconut milk) and ketupat (rice cake boiled in a rhombus-shaped packet of plaited, young coconut leaves). The raw ingredients for these dishes are the result of community saweran donations.
