Have you tried tumpeng before? 🍚⛰️
1. Tumpeng is a traditional Indonesian rice dish, often eaten in religious ceremonies, cultural observances, and ‘slametan’ - communal feasts held in Javanese culture to celebrate/commemorate births, weddings, and other new beginnings.
2. The rice is steamed, sometimes with coconut or turmeric, molded into a cone, and served on a large bamboo platter lined with banana leaves, surrounded by an assortment of dishes such as chicken, catfish, salads, and crisps.
3. Some believe that tumpeng derived its conical shape from kukusan - cone-shaped bamboo baskets in which the rice is steamed. Interestingly, #India has no tradition of rice cones, making tumpeng a dish that is uniquely Javanese (as opposed to practices in Java such as gamelan music, wayang kulit, or topeng dances that are Hindu-Buddhist in origin).
4. Because tumpeng were likely popularised when literacy rates on Java were low, they were used as a means of passing down moral lessons. As a result, each ingredient in tumpeng is rich with symbolism and philosophical significance.
5. The pointed cone of rice alludes to Java’s mountainous landscape, and symbolises devotion towards God. Ayam ingkung - a popular dish where whole chickens are presented with their heads facing up - signify a pursuit of holiness. Catfish spend their lives underwater and are therefore symbolic of humility.
6. Rempeyek teri - deep-fried crisps with tiny dried anchovies - depict harmony. The whites of boiled eggs symbolise virtue while egg yolks symbolise the light of God. Urap-urap - a salad of bean sprouts, long beans, and grated coconut - symbolise friendship and cooperation.
7. Collectively, the tumpeng is a symbol of gratitude, prosperity, and harmony, and the practice of serving tumpeng is deeply rooted in Indonesian culture.
8. Last month, Withersworldwide and Karna Partnership celebrated the launch of our association in #Indonesia with a tumpengan ceremony where, in true Indonesian fashion, Karna Partnership’s Managing Partner Rizki Dwianda, Singapore Deputy Chief of Mission Terrence Teo and I removed the top of the tumpeng and presented it to our guest of honour, Indonesian minister for Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo.
Writing this post has given me a serious craving and, while I am not likely able to finish an entire tumpeng by myself this weekend, think a nasi kuning might make a nice Sunday lunch!
What are you having for lunch this weekend?
Photo of last month’s tumpengan ceremony, copyright of Karna Partnership