TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Jakartans preserve tradition, strengthen bond at Lebaran Betawi
Dozens of bright
Change Size
One visitor said Lebaran Betawi was a celebration he looked forward to each year because it aimed to gather residents of Betawi descent from across Greater Jakarta. (kompas.com/Vitorio Mantalean)
T
he National Monument (Monas) complex saw a larger and merrier crowd on Sunday morning as thousands of Jakartans, many dressed in traditional Betawi clothes, attended the final day of the 2019 Lebaran Betawi celebration.
One enormous stage stood near the monument building and six other smaller stages took up the complex’s southern area. Near every stage stood temporary traditional Betawi houses representing the city administration, the capital’s five municipalities and one regency.
Traditional art performances entertained visitors who walked from one house to another in search of free food. Dozens of bright ondel-ondel (giant Betawi effigies) were scattered across the complex, acting as welcoming hosts.
“Thank God, we were able to hold the 12th annual Lebaran Betawi. This event strengthens the bond among Jakartans of Betawi descent and the rest of the city’s [residents],” said Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.
The festivities continued with the antaran tradition, which saw the five mayors and one regent of Jakarta come out of their respective traditional houses to visit the governor’s house.
The six leaders acted as "children" of the city administration, while Anies was “the parent.” This symbolized the obligation of the younger generations to respect their elders by paying them a visit and bringing gifts.
These gifts comprise traditional Betawi dishes such as gabus pucung (snakehead fish soup), roti buaya (crocodile-shaped bread), semur jengkol (dogfruit stew), oblok bebek (duck cooked in chili sauce) and kerak telor (Betawi style omelet).
