Maksum Nur Fauzan

Villagers march while carrying ritual meals comprising ketupat (boiled rice cakes wrapped in coconut leaves) and various other dishes to the hub of Mlambong village in Boyolali, Central Java.

The march marked the beginning of the villagers’ unique cow parade called

Lebaran Sapi to mark Syawalan, a celebration that usually takes place within a week of Idul Fitri.

After holding prayers and greeting one another, the villagers indulged in a feast along the main road.

At the end of the feast, they released their cows, some of which wore pretty make up and dyes on their torso.

The villagers and their cows along with Gunungan Ketupat (rice cake offerings) then paraded around the village, creating a spectacle for everyone else watching on.

“This tradition is preserved as the main event of Idul Fitri and a manifestation of gratitude for our thriving cattle breeding and harmonious relationships among villagers, while maintaining spiritual bonds with local people working outside of this village,” said Hadi Sutarno, an elder and community leader of the village.