Rain Brings Excitement to Rawa Belong Milkfish Festival 2025

The Rawa Belong Milkfish Festival 2025 held on Jalan Raya Sulaiman, Sukabumi Utara, Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta went lively, Tuesday (1/28).

Milkfish presents as a symbol of prayer and good hopes

The event was attended by Acting Jakarta Governor, Teguh Setyabudi accompanied by Jakarta Regional Secretary, Marullah Matali together with the elected Jakarta Governor and Vice Governor, Pramono Anung - Rano Karno. There were also three previous Jakarta Governors namely Sutiyoso, Fauzi Bowo, and Djarot Syaiful Hidayat.

Member of the DPD RI for the Jakarta Electoral District, Happy Djarot, Fahira Idris and Dilami Firdaus, as well as Betawi figures such as Nachrowi Ramli, Zaenudin, Sylviana Murni and Rano P Ahmad also attended the event.

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The residents kept flocking to the festival even though rain poured. The festival is held two days on January 27-28, 2025.

The elected Jakarta Governor and Vice Governor, Pramono - Rano bought a 13.5 kilogram milkfish from one of the sellers, and bought another milkfish from the auction worth Rp 6 million.

Acting Jakarta Governor, Teguh Setyabudi said Rawa Belong Milkfish Festival has an important value and long history related to culinary and trading of Betawi resident which has connection with luck and prosperity symbol.

"Milkfish presents as a symbol of prayer and good hopes in various traditional events," Teguh said, Tuesday (1/28).

He added that the delivering milkfish is one of the Betawi traditions in welcoming the Chinese New Year.

"The delivering milkfish tradition is also a reflection of togetherness and respect for a culture that is full of meaning," he added.

Teguh hopes the first Rawa Belong Milkfish Festival 2025 can be listed as annual event by Jakarta Provincial Government. Teguh also ensures the milkfish sold in the event is fresh and without formalin.

"We are strengthening and reviving the Betawi people culture through this festival. So it becomes a form of preserving tradition, supporting the local economy development through the participation of MSMEs and food security," he stated.

Teguh also thanked the Permata MHT and related stakeholders for their effort in preserving tradition, strengthening harmony and society diversity tolerance in Jakarta as a barometer and miniature of Indonesia.

"Let us make this moment as a part of the celebration to welcome the five centuries of Jakarta, and the effort to realize Jakarta in the ranking of 20 global cities that are culture, inclusive, preserve traditions, livable , equitable and sustainable," Teguh stated.

Meanwhile, Rawa Belong Milkfish Festival 2025 Chairman, Naman Setiawan, explained the festival is initiated by Acting Jakarta Governor Teguh Setyabudi and Jakarta Regional Secretary Marullah Matali in welcoming the five centuries of Jakarta and preserving Betawi tradition namely delivering milkfish.

Naman added that the event also aims to introduce milkfish-based processed products to the public, while also supporting local MSMEs in introducing their products and increasing the interest of regional tourism through cultural and culinary activities.

"The festival is attended by 32 fresh milkfish traders and 25 fostered MSMEs who brought Betawi specialty food. Hopefully this event can be held again next year since it is highly waited by Jakarta residents, especially Rawa Belong," he explained.