VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Ngobeng is a tradition of serving food in traditional activities in Palembang, Sout Sumatra, such as weddings, circumcisions, thanksgiving, and celebrations of religious days.

This tradition is predicted to have been carried out for the first time in the era of the Palembang Darussalam Sultanate and is an Islamic tradition that has been assimilated with local culture, namely eating together by using hands directly while sitting cross-legged according to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad.

Technically, Ngobeng is conducted by passing the dish to a dining area which is covered with a tablecloth. This way aims to make food arrive immediately and relieve the burden for those who bring it. There is someone in charge of bringing a basin or kettle filled with water for guests to wash their hands. Because, the guests eat without using a spoon.

One dish in Ngobeng is intended for eight people so that the audience can still reach the dishes that have been served by the event organizer. Serving food in Ngobeng is in the form of iwak (side dish), pulur (vegetables, chili sauce, and fruits), as well as white rice or oil rice served in a pan and placed in the middle of the dish.

The Ngobeng tradition is rarely practiced by the people of Palembang, especially young people. S, they are not very familiar with this tradition because the presentation of food at various events in Palembang has been replaced by the buffet method.