INFOKU, BLORA – Usually the areca climbing competition is used to commemorate the seventeenth day, this time the competition was held to commemorate the Earth Alms Event.
Sedekah Bumi , or the people of Blora call it 'Gas Deso', is an annual event that is held as a form of gratitude for the blessings from the creator because they are still being given to people with an adequate life.
Many activities were held in holding the Gas Deso event. Such as the procession of barongan, tayub, ketoprak, wayang, to climbing areca nut or commonly known as jambean.
Jambean itself usually uses a bamboo tree which is given various gifts in a circle on top.
However, the jambean held in Dukuh Gulingan, Tempurejo Village, Blora District, Blora Regency, Central Java was different from the usual.
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They use a banana tree trunk or a tree trunk covered in oil and then a group of people climbs with a prize at the top.
To be able to get the prize, they have to compete to climb the 5-meter tall ledge.
"Today is a charity event with jambean bananas, maybe only in this area there are bananas hung upside down with oil," said the chairman of the committee, Didik Susanto at the location, Friday (30/6/2023).
In the competition, 5 groups consisting of 4 adults each competed for various prizes, such as folding bicycles, clothes, school equipment, household appliances, and cash.
"The main prize is 2 folding bicycles, there is cash," he said.
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According to him, a jambean contest using a gedebok had been carried out several years ago.
But because of Covid-19, these activities had stopped for several years.
"In the past and had been in a vacuum for 4 years, then we young people gathered again to preserve jambebanban which has long been an icon of our village," he explained.
With the jambean gedebok competition, of course it becomes a magnet for people to flock to see the event.
In addition, several traders also sell their wares around the location, and of course there is an economic impact.
"The goal is to entertain the community, to enliven the earth alms in our village," he concluded. (Endah / IST )
