The Bekaseman Fish at the Cirebon Palace

The Bekaseman Fish at the Cirebon Palace

The Cirebon Palace practices “The Tradition of Bekaseman Fish,” a cultural ritual associated with releasing fish into the waters surrounding the palace in Indonesia. This tradition, believed to bestow blessings and prosperity upon the palace and its inhabitants, may hold symbolic significance rooted in local customs. The Kasepuhan Palace routinely performs the tradition of making Bekasem Fish every year before commemorating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad SAW.

The preparation process for The Bekaseman Fish at the Cirebon Palace

To prepare it, several women from the royal family clean and cut the fish into small pieces before preserving them by placing them into earthenware jars. They sprinkle them with a mixture of spices such as finely ground salt, brown sugar, and white rice. Then, they tightly seal the jars with burnt ashes.

They preserve the fish in these jars for approximately one month. They seal the mouths of the jars with thick paper and store them in the Pungkuran Dalem Arum room at the Kasepuhan Palace in Cirebon. These are not just any ordinary jars; they use ancient jars inherited from Princess Ong Tien Nio of China, who was the wife of Sunan Gunung Jati. After one month, they serve them alongside blessed rice during the Panjang Jimat ceremony or the peak of the Muludan commemoration on the 12th of Mulud.

They open the jars, releasing the strong distinctive aroma of the fermented fish. Before serving at the peak of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday commemoration, they further process the bekasem fish by cooking it together with blessed rice. They carry out the processing process in the Mulud Kitchen, which, as its name suggests, is only used during the month of Maulud or Rabiul Awal.

Patih Pangeran Raja Gumelar Surya Diningrat stated that Bekasem Fish is a processed fish dish. “Bekasem Fish is made from fish, one of which is snapper,” he said, on Friday, September 22, 2023. They then ferment the fish in earthenware jars along with a variety of spices for one month. “The spices include salt and others, specifically for making Bekasem,” he added.

For more information you can check on cara-membuat-bekasem-ikan.pdf

Written by Maulina Nabila