VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Before planting rice, farmers in the Klaten area in Central Java province, always make a dish called ‘Sego Wiwit’. The area is approximately 38 kilometers from Solo city. In Javanese traditional language, Sego means rice, while Wiwit means starting. So, it can be interpreted that Sego Wiwit is a dish for farmers who are starting to plant rice.

According to local beliefs, Sego Wiwit was made to honor Dewi Sri, the Goddess of Rice, as well as a sign of gratitude for the good fortune that God has given. Sego Wiwit is made from white rice which is shaped into a cone similar to tumpeng rice. Usually, Sego Wiwit is served with several accompaniments, such as warehouse, ingkung chicken, boiled eggs, salted fish and ground soybeans. Gudangan is made from various vegetables such as spinach, bean sprouts and boiled long beans. Ingkung chicken is chicken cooked with spices such as shallots, garlic and galangal, coriander and salt, then given hot water and cooked until the spices are absorbed. When it is cooked, grill the chicken briefly until there is a charred sensation. It is usually cooked by using charcoal so that the chicken tastes even better. Meanwhile, soybeans are usually fried then pounded with garlic, lime leaves and galangal which are used as a substitute for chili sauce. Sego Wiwit is served by forming a cone first and placing it in the middle of a tray lined with banana leaves. Next, the side dishes are placed on the edge of the rice in a circle.

Nowadays, to taste Sego Wiwit, you don't have to wait for a thanksgiving before rice planting, because many Sego Wiwit sellers sell it. The menu served is still the same as the original version, the only thing that has changed is the size. For a thanksgiving ceremony, a tray of Sego Wiwit can be eaten by a group, while those sold are only for one person, and are priced at around Rp. 20,000 (1,26 US dollar).