Holiday Ayo - A visit to Jogja is certainly incomplete if you haven't tried a variety of delicious special foods. There are many special Jogja foods besides gudeg that you can taste and definitely make your vacation more exciting. In fact, it is not uncommon for Jogja tour packages offered by travel agencies to offer special culinary tours to try all the foods in Jogja. That way you can travel happily because of a full stomach.

At a special event in Jogja, Ingkung Ayam is a culinary that is always present as a special dish with sacred and philosophical values. This delicious Jogja food comes from the Pajangan Bantul area and is now well known throughout the archipelago. Ingkung ayam is the main side dish served as a side dish for tumpeng. This chicken is made from free-range chicken and cooked with spices and coconut milk. Even this special chicken dish has been around since time immemorial.

In the journal Syncretism and Symbolism of the Selamatan Death Tradition in Purwosari Village, Kulon Progo, it is stated that the name ingkung itself comes from the Javanese language, namely 'ing' which is taken from 'ingsun' and 'kung' from 'manekung'. In Indonesian, ingsun manekung means 'I pray solemnly'.

In ancient times, this dish was usually served at death ceremonies. The rooster whose position is bowed is a symbol of the family who kneel down to ask forgiveness for the sins of those who have died. While the head of a rooster that is turned looking back is a symbol of humans to always remember everything they have lived and be grateful for what they have.

The philosophy of this traditional culinary itself is the hope that humans behave like chickens. If a chicken is fed, it will not be eaten immediately, but first choose which one is good and bad. Humans are also expected to be able to sort out good things to do and bad things to leave behind. If you buy Ingkung to take home in Java, the chicken will be wrapped in a bamboo rope called kreneng for easy carrying. The bamboo used as a rope has a philosophical meaning, a symbol of unity and oneness.

The process of making ingkung ayam is unique, because before entering the frying pan, you must first boil this whole chicken with coconut milk and special spices. You can enjoy Ingkung ayam with uduk rice, fresh vegetables, and sambal as well as tumpeng rice. The presentation can be in a modern or traditional way. If served in a modern way, the chicken is pre-pressed first. However, if you go through the traditional method, the chicken must be uncovered for at least 4 hours.

Currently, many restaurants in Jogja sell Ingkung Chicken Rice dishes, especially in the Bantul area such as Ingkung Ayam Mbah Cempluk. The price of one serving of whole ingkung ayam ranges from IDR 45,000.00 to IDR 100,000 depending on the complementary dish. Processed chicken is often served as a form of thanksgiving or salvation. Its complete form makes it even more attractive. Do you also like to eat this legendary Javanese dish?