Thousands of residents of Serang Village, located on the slopes of Mount Slamet, Purbalingga, Central Java, once again held a festive annual tradition as part of the ninth Mount Slamet Festival (FGS). This event serves as a symbol of local wisdom and an expression of gratitude for the abundant harvest received throughout the year.
The excitement reached its peak during the procession of 12 elaborately decorated produce cones (gunungan) paraded around the village. Residents dressed in traditional Javanese attire eagerly awaited the cue to scramble for various fresh vegetables on the gunungan. Within moments, all the paraded produce was gone, reflecting the spirit of togetherness and community unity.
The fun did not end with the gunungan scramble; the atmosphere at the Lembah Asri Serang Tourism parking area turned into a scene of joy through the traditional tomato fight. The committee prepared nine quintals of unsellable tomatoes as ammunition for this mass battle. Using damaged tomatoes is a creative way for residents to carry out the tradition without wasting high-quality produce.
Husein, one of the participants, expressed that despite being covered in tomatoes and enduring the sting of being hit, the public's enthusiasm remained high. According to him, the event is a valuable moment to foster bonds and maintain unity among farmers on the mountain slope.
The Head of Serang Village, Sugito, stated that the Mount Slamet Festival is not merely a cultural celebration, but a strategy to boost the local agritourism sector. The village government hopes this long-standing tradition will continue to be preserved to provide sustainable economic benefits for the welfare of the local community.
