Feel The Nostalgic And Tense Moments at The Jathilan

Feel The Nostalgic And Tense Moments at The Jathilan

Hi travellers, welcome to my blog again...

Last week, I was taking a leisurely stroll around the village. But suddenly from a distance I heard the sound of Gamelan which was very unique. Do you know gamelan.?? Gamelan is traditional music from Indonesia.. And I immediately knew that there must be a jathilan performance! I had been curious about this art form for a long time, so I hurried to find its location...

From outside I could already see the crowds. There were so many people, from children to grandparents, everyone was very enthusiastic. As soon as I entered, the atmosphere immediately feels mystical (just kidding hahaha). The dancers wore the same costumes and used horse ornaments for their dance. Their movements were very synchronized, it seemed like they had trained for weeks to get it like that. The accompanying gamelan music made the atmosphere even more interesting. There was a part where the dancers ate shards of glass, which was really tense (but I intentionally didn’t take a photo)...

I got goosebumps and also I felt amazed at just how they could do that. Jathilan is not just only a dance but also a kind of ritual performance. At the same time its terrifying scenes do amaze and frighten us.

After enjoying the show, my stomach started to rumble hahaha. Then I saw a vendor selling fried meatballs, so I went over. As soon as I tried them, they were delicious.!! The spiciness wasn’t ordinary heat alone, rather addictive sweet spiciness. The heat of the chili oil had an impact upon the dish. However, a sweetness balanced out the flavor. The fried meatballs was also crunchy, making it even more enjoyable to chew. It was perfect for accompanying the Jathilan show...

Not just the fried meatballs, I also bought traditional terang bulan. The seller still used a cart with charcoal stove, and that created an smell that felt very nostalgic. I ordered the chocolate flavor. Biting into it truly reminded me about my childhood. The thick and soft batter was filled by powdered sugar and chocolate sprinkles. This one felt more authentic as well as original from back in the day, it was very different beyond modern terang bulan...

The combination of watching Jathilan while eating fried meatballs and traditional terang bulan truly made for an unforgettable afternoon experience. This traditional art and its typical snacks are indeed a complete package to make us happy...

Best Regards,
Nur Satrio