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Semarang holds Sesaji Rewanda ritual at cave
Three days after Idul Fitri, thousands of people flocked to Kreo Cave in Pakintelan Gunungpati tourism village to witness the annual Sesaji Rewanda ritual.
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The exterior of Semarang’s oldest Chinese temple, Sam Poo Kong. (Shutterstock/File)
T
hree days after Idul Fitri, thousands of people flocked to Kreo Cave in Pakintelan Gunungpati tourism village in Semarang to witness the annual Sesaji Rewanda ritual.
The ritual included food offerings for monkeys at the cave.
Read also: A guide to visiting Semarang
“Sesaji Rewanda is held three days after Lebaran Syawal to show gratitude to God for preserving nature for humans,” explained Semarang Tourism Agency head Masdiana Safitri.
Four types of food offerings were presented at the ritual, consisting of sego kethek (rice, salad with grated coconut, tempeh and tofu wrapped in leaves), fruit, produce and ketupat (rice cake) that were stacked 4 meters high. Teak, which was used by early Islamic preacher Sunan Kalijaga from Java to build the Demak Grand Mosque, was also included in the offerings.
The offerings were taken into the cave by young men dressed in rewanda (monkey) outfits, a man representing Sunan Kalijaga, nine males dressed as royal guards and four pagar ayu (helpers). (kes)
