Tajin Sappar, a Local Dish of Sumenep and Its Philosophy

TIMESINDONESIA, SUMENEP – On Safar or Sappar--a name of a month in Lunar Calendar--the local community of Sumenep Madura will make Tajin Sappar and share it with the neighbors. This has become a tradition by the local community since long time ago when their ancestors rule the area.

Tajin Sappar is a dish made of rice flour which is boiled till it’s thickened. The local community usually will add red food coloring on it. It will be serve with pal sugar syrup and creamy coconut milk.

Ibn Hajar, a local cultural observer of Sumenep said that Tajin Sappar was just a tradition and cultural expression of the Madurese people in showing their identity. However it has unique philosophy from the way it makes till what things put in it.

The soft powdered rice flour symbolize the pure and soft hearted people i.e the Madurese that always trying to seek for the truth and trying to be a human with good heart. The palm sugar and the creamy white coconut milk symbolize that life always has two sides, the dark and the bright.

The coconut milk also referred to the coconut trees which could live wherever they grow. Meanwhile, the rice flour balls in it show that life is about destiny that goes around and always changes.  

Once it’s ready, Tajin Sappar will be served and share with the neighbor especially the religious leader amongst them. Socialize and become friendly and greet one another each time they met has become a tradition for the local community of Madura especially Sumenep which never will be washed away by the time. (*) 

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