Taking place along Jalan Raya Sulaiman, Sukabumi Utara Urban Village, Kebon Jeruk Sub-district, West Jakarta, the Rawa Belong Bandeng Festival officially kicked off on Monday (1/27). The festival, which represents the local tradition of Betawi residents in Rawa Belong, was highly anticipated by visitors.

"Rawa Belong Bandeng Festival which is held for two days from January 27 to 28, 2025 is one of the events to commemorate the five centuries of Jakarta City,"

Dozens of milkfish traders and fostered MSMEs who sell food and beverages also enlivened the festival. 

Sukabumi Utara Urban Village Government Section Head, M. Kharis Syaifuddin stated, the Rawa Belong Bandeng Festival 2025 is held as a series to welcome the five centuries of Jakarta.

"Rawa Belong Bandeng Festival which is held for two days from January 27 to 28, 2025 is one of the events to commemorate the five centuries of Jakarta City," he said at the event location.

According to him, Rawa Belong is always full of seasonal milkfish traders ahead of Chinese New Year and this has been going on since 1960.

"Betawi people in Rawa Belong and its surrounding have a tradition of buying, cooking, and delivering milkfish to relatives ahead of Chinese New Year. This has been going on for a long time. Starting this year, the Jakarta Government has elevated the tradition into Rawa Belong Bandeng Festival," he explained.

There were 30 tents with a total of 60 traders participating in this event, consisting of 31 milkfish traders and 29 MSMEs selling food and beverages. 

"We hope by promoting the Rawa Belong Bandeng Festival, Insya Allah, it will bring greater benefits and raise the potential of MSMEs for residents in Rawa Belong and its surroundings," he expressed.

Bachtiar, one of the event organizers of Rawa Belong Bandeng Festival as well as Chairperson of Sanggar Seni si Pitung, shared a brief story of "nganter ikan bandeng" (delivering milkfish) tradition among the Betawi people.

Delivering milkfish tradition has been practiced for decades by Betawi people in Rawa Belong and its surroundings prior to Chinese New Year. 

"Parents even joke that they will nag their children if they don't buy milkfish before Chinese New Year," he mentioned.

He added that the large milkfish bought at Rawa Belong are often cooked into various dishes, such as pindang, pesmol, and pecak and are usually sent to relatives.

"The more and the bigger fish bought from Rawa Belong milkfish traders shows the status of Betawi people," he conveyed.