cirebon cullinary 
Karangasem Village is not just a dot on the map, with 5491 inhabitants. It is not just a collection of houses and rice fields lined up neatly. Karangasem Village carries a rich history, preserves its ancestral heritage, and continues to nurture its promising future potential.
History of Karangasem Village
The history of Karangasem Village began long before modern civilization touched it. In the past, various wildlife, such as tigers, wild boars, and owls, inhabited the region’s dense scrub forest. The existence of large trees and deep swamps makes this area feel haunted by the surrounding community.
However, around the 15th century, a group of people led by Ki Danalampa came. He and his followers—Ki Werdi, Ki Kilipah, Ki Japar, and others cleared land by cutting down trees, draining swamps, and building settlements. They bring physical abilities and science to farming and managing natural resources. The name “Karangasem” also appeared as a combination of “karang,” which means dry land, and “asem,”“which comes from the many asem trees in this region.
Over time, the region has grown with a better farming system. They built irrigation canals, organized a land division system, and established villages. Not only that, Karangasem also began to attract attention from the government of the Cirebon Sultanate, which then recognized this area as part of its territory. In 1982, the government expanded Karangasem Village and divided it into two parts: Karangasem Village in the north and Karangmulya Village in the south of the Cirebon-Bandung highway. Since then, Karangasem Village has continued to develop with its various potentials.
Geographical Location
Karangasem Village is located in Plumbon Subdistrict, Cirebon Regency, in a lowland area about 25 meters above sea level. The village has an annual rainfall of about 2600 mm, with air temperatures ranging from 28°C to 32°C. Karangasem borders several other villages, namely:
- North: Kedungsana Village
- East: Gombang Village
- South: Karangmulya Village
- West: Plumbon and Kebarepan Villages
The distance of Karangasem Village from the district government center is about 1 km, while from the district government center is about 7 km. The village is also about 120 km from the provincial capital and 250 km from the state capital. With reasonably close access to the government center and public facilities, Karangasem has excellent potential to continue to grow.
The Potential of Karangasem Village
- Fertile agriculture, Karangasem farmers cultivate fertile soil and manage an irrigation system that still has development potential. They primarily grow rice, and applying modern agricultural innovations can further optimize crop yields. In addition, processing agricultural products into value-added products can open up new business opportunities.
- Cultural Tourism, This village has unique historical places, such as the Tomb of Buyut Kilipo and the Tomb of Buyut Kijapar, which can be a cultural tourism attraction. If developed properly, this village can become an attractive religious and historical tourist destination for local tourists.
- Creative Economy Karangasem residents already have small businesses such as stalls, convection, and mineral water depots. Village MSMEs can proliferate and reach a larger market with broader marketing through social media and digital marketplaces.
Tradition
According to Wikipedia’s article, people repeatedly perform traditions or customs in the same way, often unconsciously. They continue these habits because they find them beneficial and choose to preserve them. The word “Tradition” comes from the Latin “Tradere,” meaning to transmit from one hand to another for preservation.
- Ngunjung Buyut Kilipo and Ngunjung Buyut Kijapar These two main traditions are a form of respect for the village’s ancestors. This event lasted several days and involved various cultural activities such as puppets, recitations, and folk entertainment. The community believes this tradition brings blessings and maintains the balance of village life.
- Memitu (Seven Months) This tradition is carried out when a pregnant woman enters the age of seven months. This event was filled with joint prayers, flushing processions, and coconut-splitting rituals to symbolize hope for safe and healthy babies.
- Tedhak Siten (Down the Ground) When a baby begins to learn to walk, the family holds this ceremony as a symbol of the child’s readiness to face life. In this ritual, the family places the baby on the ground, and he chooses objects that they believe reflect his future.
- Sedekah Makam: This annual traditional tomb alms is carried out as a form of respect for deceased ancestors. Residents together clean graves, pray, and distribute food to neighbors and the poor.
- Curak and Bacakan: Curak is the tradition of distributing coins as a form of gratitude, while Bacakan is the tradition of holding prayers together and sharing food.
- Kliwonan, residents gather to pray together and various religious rituals. The village community believes this tradition has high spiritual value and brings blessings.
Challenges and Solutions
- Infrastructure That Needs to Be Repaired Damaged village roads need immediate attention. The village government can submit proposals for road repairs and seek support from local companies.
- Lack of MSME Marketing Many local products are of high quality but not widely known. Digital marketing training and participation in MSME exhibitions can be a solution.
- Conversion of Agricultural Land More and more rice fields are turning into settlements. Stricter spatial planning policies must be implemented to maintain the balance between agriculture and development.
Author:
Dian Purbaningrum
