SURABAYA, Oct 20 — Supporters of Indonesia’s re-elected president showed their devotion today by erecting a seven-metre (23 foot) tumpeng, a towering rendition of the country’s popular cone-shaped dish.
About 100 jubilant fans sang and danced around the two-storey edible structure as President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, was sworn in for a second term in the capital Jakarta.
The giant tower, strung up in Indonesia’s second-biggest city Surabaya, was made of fruit and vegetables, including carrots, eggplants, string beans, bananas, oranges and topped with pineapples.
Tumpeng, a common dish at Indonesian celebrations, usually features a rice cone accompanied by vegetables and meat.
“The tumpeng is seven metres tall to signify Indonesia’s seventh presidency,” event organiser Kusnan, who goes by one name, told AFP.
“We chose to make it with fruits and vegetables to show how fertile our motherland is,” he added.
But the creation, dotted with hot chilis, didn’t last long as the crowd jostled to get their hands on a tasty memento.
“They can eat it here or take it home,” Kusnan said.
“It’s a blessing for us all.” — AFP
