INFOKU, BLORA – "Kupat kecemplung santen, menawi kathah lepat nyuwun pangapunten (kupat dipped in coconut milk sauce, if there is a mistake please forgive)
That is a fitting sentence ahead of the 2026 Ketupat Eid tradition or Bodo Kupat.
It can be seen that coconut leaf sellers are starting to appear in the traditional markets of Blora, Central Java.
Residents also hunt for young coconut leaves to make ketupat and lepet, which are typical dishes at this celebration.
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At the Sido Makmur traditional market, one of the young coconut leaf sellers, Ngatono from Nglandoh, Sulang Rembang, said he started selling since D+1 of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah.
He brings in young coconut leaves from Kebumen and sells them in various sizes of bundles.
"A bundle of 50 young coconut leaves is sold for Rp 20,000.
Meanwhile, a large bundle (bongkokan) is sold for Rp 350,000," he explained.
Mujari, a young coconut leaf seller from Pojok Hamlet, Buluroto Village, Banjarejo District, said the same thing.
"So, to meet the demand for young coconut leaves for Eid al-Fitr 1447 H and the upcoming Kupatan tradition, I sourced them from Kebumen Regency. However, I don't sell wholesale, but retail," he explained.
Besides janur, ketupat casings, lepet ropes, and old coconuts for coconut milk are also sold.
"For ready-made ketupat casings, I sell them for Rp. 15,000.00 per 10 pieces," he said.
Janur was deliberately purchased by residents early in preparation for making ketupat and lepet casings ahead of the kupatan (Ketupat Eid) tradition on D+7 of Eid 2026.
Erika, one of the buyers of coconut leaves, another Blora resident, said she bought coconut leaves early, worried about running out of stock.
"Later, you can store it in a damp place, sprinkle it with water so the leaves don't wilt," he said.
It should be noted that most of the young coconut leaves are supplied by traders from outside the region because in the Blora region there are few coconut trees due to attacks by the kwangwung pest over the past decades.
Young coconut leaf traders from outside the city generally have regular customers, namely local seasonal young coconut leaf traders who sell retail.
Therefore, as soon as they arrived, the coconut leaves they brought were immediately taken by the customers.
Ketupat or kupat is made from rice that has been washed and soaked in water for some time, then put into a sheath (container) made of coconut leaves.
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Meanwhile, lepet is a counterpart to ketupat. This dish is made from selected glutinous rice.
The method is almost the same as for ketupat. However, the coconut leaf container is made by folding it into several sections, then filling it with sticky rice. It's usually mixed with grated coconut and green peas.
To prevent the sticky rice from spilling, the lepet is tied with rice straw or bamboo strips.
Some residents in Blora still cook kupat and lepet on a clay stove or other fireplace with wood fuel.
Then wait for a while, until it is cooked and ready to be served with various vegetables in coconut milk sauce.
Usually, vegetables in coconut milk sauce that are suitable for eating ketupat are gori vegetables, tempeh, tofu, long beans and smoked fish.
There are also some residents who choose to make chicken opor vegetables.
The Kupat Celebration Tradition
Meanwhile, on the morning of the Kupatan tradition, local residents usually hold a joint celebration at the village official's house or at another agreed location.
Residents, especially housewives, brought packages containing kupat and lepet.
After gathering, community leaders or religious leaders lead a prayer together, asking for safety, health, long life, and ease in finding sustenance from Allah SWT, so that they can meet again in the Kupatan tradition in the coming year.
Some residents also distributed ketupat and lepet to family or neighbors who did not have the opportunity to make or cook them.
The name ketupat or kupat, from several sources, has a symbolic meaning, especially for Central Javanese people.
Kupat, or ketupat, has symbolic meaning for Javanese people. "Kupat can mean I admit to being pat-lepat."
Ngaku lepat (admitting mistakes) whether the mistakes were made grossly (obvious/intentional) or subtle or invisible/unintentional. (Setyorini)
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