Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — Indonesia is renowned for its diverse culinary heritage, with each region boasting its own unique flavors and traditions. These dishes are more than just food—they are a vital part of the country’s cultural identity that must be preserved. Recently, nasi gandul.
Nasi gandul its a traditional dish from Pati, Central Java, was officially recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Indonesia by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.
Intangible cultural heritage includes cultural practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, and skills that communities recognize as part of their cultural heritage. This recognition often includes historical, scientific, technological, and artistic elements.
According to the ministry’s website, nasi gandul was initially recorded as part of Indonesia’s ICH in 2013. However, it wasn’t until 2022 that the formal process to secure its status began.
Last year, the Education and Culture Office of Central Java conducted a thorough review, leading to its official designation this year.
The process of recognizing an item as ICH involves extensive preparation, including historical background, academic research, and documentation, such as video presentations.
This recognition is crucial for promoting Indonesia’s cultural heritage both nationally and internationally, and it serves to protect these traditions from being claimed by other nations. The designation also represents the government’s commitment to appreciating and preserving the cultural diversity within Indonesia.
Nasi gandul is a flavorful dish consisting of rice served with a rich brown broth, often described as a blend between pindang, rawon, and gule—other popular Indonesian dishes.
The True Cultural and Symbolic of Sesajen Meaning
The dish is traditionally served on banana leaves with various side dishes, such as meatballs, tempeh, beef tongue, intestines, beef, lungs, and liver. The unique serving method, where the broth is poured directly over the rice, enhances its distinctive taste and presentation.
By recognizing nasi gandul as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, Indonesia highlights the importance of its culinary traditions and the need to protect them for future generations.
(Ray)
