Meugang: The Acehnese Way in Welcoming Ramadhan

in #aceh7 years ago

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Indonesia has so many traditions. One of them is a Meugang or Makmeugang tradition from Aceh province which located at the tip of Sumatra Island. In this short essay, I would like to share you a little bit about Meugang/Makmeugang tradition.

Meugang is an Acehnese tradition where they cook meat and consume it with family, relatives and orphan. Meugang or in other word it is called Makmeugang is a tradition of slaughtering goat or ox and it is conducted three times a year, such as in welcoming Ramadhan, Eid Fitr and Eid Adha.

imageAcehnese are looking for meat to buy

In this even, hundred of ox and goat are slaughtered. Besides goat and ox, people of aceh also slaughter chicken and duck. Meugang tradition normally tale one or two days. In this way, people normally cook meat at home and enjoy it with family, relative or share them to orphan.

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History

Meugang tradition has been conducted hundred years ago in Aceh. It started since Acehnese Kingdom around 1607-1636. In this case, Sultanate Iskandar Muda butchered hundred of animals (ox, goat, chicken, duck, fish) and shared them for free to the people of aceh. He did it for thankfulness of people prosperity. Moreover, after Acehnese Kingdom was defeated by Dutch in 1873, the tradition was no longer performed by the king. But for the tradition has been rooted in acehnese life, thus, meugang tradition is still performed up till now in any kind od condition.

Thank you for reading. Please comment and vote. :)