Tumpeng is an important part in the celebration of traditional feast. It has the value of gratitude and celÂebration, in nowadays tumpeng ofÂten replaces the function of a birthÂday cake when someone celebrates her/his birthday.
Indonesian people used to call this tumpeng as ‘tumpengan’. In Yogyakarta and other cities in Java, people always provide tumpengan on the evening before the 17th of AuÂgust that is marked as the Indonesian Independence Day, and on that occaÂsion the elders together young generÂation perform their prayer in front of Tumpeng to pray for the good sake of the country and the nation.
After praying, the top cone which is usually cooked in yellow color cut out and given to the most important, most honored, or most seÂnior among the attendees. It is meant to show the respect to the said person. All the people who present were invited to taste the rice. It is an expression of gratiÂtude to the Almighy as well as to celÂebrate togetherÂness and harÂmony.
