Indonesia’s cultural diversity is the contribution of all 38 provinces in Indonesia. Every culture has two chances, to be lost or to grow. The task of the younger generation is to maintain and expand each culture. Dominated by a Muslim population, Indonesia also celebrates the Islamic New Year, namely Eid al-Fitr, which falls on April 10, 2024. The tradition is closely related to Islamic cultures adopted in Indonesia, one of which is eating ketupat.
Ketupat is an inseparable element of the Eid celebration, not only in Indonesia but also other countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. Ketupat is not only a complementary culinary but also enriches the meaning of togetherness and blessings in the Eid tradition. Basically, ketupat is a steamed rice dish stuffed into woven coconut leaves. In general situation, ketupat is served with other Eid dishes, such as rendang or chicken opor. Apart from being a source of carbohydrates, steamed ketupat is low in fat and cholesterol, making it great for those on a low-fat diet. Ketupat contains vitamins and minerals, such as B complex, which is necessary for healthy energy metabolism, and selenium, which functions as an antioxidant to protect the body’s cells from harmful chemicals.
A village in the city of Samarinda sees the existence of ketupat as one of the promising market opportunities. This village was then inaugurated as a tourist destination, Kampung Ketupat, one of the settlements on the banks of the Mahakam River. The government and craftsmen can
jointly realize SDGs Number 9, namely Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure by providing training and mentoring to small business owners to improve the quality of work to be better so that it can be integrated into the value chain and market through marketing support programs, such as the use of leaflets that will be carried out by the Samarinda City Tourism, Youth and Sports Office. The government and ketupat craftsmen have also marketed the craft to traditional markets in Balikpapan, Berau, Bontang, and Surabaya. The hope is that this ketupat craft will also be able to compete in foreign markets in the future. In this way, small-scale industries and companies can develop their potential and increase their contribution to local and global economic growth.
Author : Adhia Raidah Kusdiyanti
NIM : 192231017