Independence day is held every 17 August. This year 2016 Indonesian Independence day will be held on Wednesday. There is a ritual called
Tirakat before the day of Independence day.
Tirakat is the night where older and some younger people would gather and send prayers at principal meeting room in the district. During
Tirakat night there will be sermons, prayers, and there will be a feast. The feast is called
Tumpeng. It is a food symbol for celebrating and expressing a gratitude to god for all happiness. Check
Tumpeng as a symbol of expressing gratitude below here.
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Tumpeng is made from rice. Rice is cooked with turmeric powder to achieve yellow color of the rice. Yet sometime the color of the rice is white as it is natural color of rice of
tumpeng. There are also the dishes around
tumpeng like roasted chicken, peas, tempe, tofu, sambal (traditional sauce), omelet egg, and many other. The
tirakat night situation would be like this one below.
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The picture above is the one of the
Tirakat night occasion. Right below the picture below is the date before independence day. People are sitting on the ground with mattress beneath their sits. See whether how they sit on the mattress or their position of sitting and it is called
bersila. Indonesia has really nicely rich local cultures. This tradition is still to be continued for more that six decades. The rundown of occasion in
Tirakat night is including the announcement of many traditional local sport competitions.
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| (source: webblogkkn.unsyiah.ac.id) |
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So, this competition is for all age, this kind of the fun traditional competition is usually held on the days before Independence day. The rules of this competition are just like the participants biting the spoon where the small round marble placed on the head of the spoon. All participants have to walk or run till finish faster for the one who finish and readh the finish line at the first, so he/she will be the winner of the traditional competition.
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| (source: spasiwhy.blogspot.co.id) |
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This competition is like jumping and running competition. Each participant is required to run as they actually jump to reach the finish line. It is so much fun and really entertaining. If you visit Indonesia on the days before Indonesian independence day, you will find these traditional competition is just so beautiful. Togetherness, happiness, and all are into one.
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| (source: naningisme.wordpress.com) |
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This kinds of the of the competition is like eating
kerupuk competition.
kerupuk is traditional crisp of Indonesia. If you visit Indonesia do not forget to try these plenty kinds of Indonesian crisps. The winner would be the one who finish eating
kerupuk. Anyway
kerupuk is also made by the cow skin, fish, meat, spinach crisp, cassava crisp, potato crisp, purple cassava crisp, apple crisp, banan crisp. and many others, and many others. Indonesia has many variants of crisps. You should try some!
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