ARABIC PORRIDGE AT
THE PEKOJAN MOSQUE, SEMARANG

When Ramadan arrives, many mosque administrators in Indonesia provide dishes to be distributed to the congregation when breaking their fast, Jami Pekojan Mosque Semarang is one of them. The mosque, which is located in the Purwodinatan area, Semarang City, has regularly distributed Indian Porridge since 150 years ago. The mosque administrator provides about 150-200 bowls to be served every day for a whole month. This tradition was influenced by Gujarat travelers, who also served as the founder of the mosque. While spreading the symbols of Islam, they also introduced the recipe for porridge brought from their homeland to residents around Pekojan Village as an alternative to breaking the fast.​
 

Porridge making starts at 1 pm. Two cooks take turns stirring a large pot of porridge batter, which is cooked in a wood-fired stove. It took about two hours for the porridge to become fragrant and fully cooked. After Asr, the caretaker began to fill the bowl with the porridge and set the bowl in the courtyard of the mosque.

Meanwhile, crowds began to appear around the mosque which was built in 1878. Dozens of residents packed the inside of the mosque while praying and listening to the cult delivered by one of the Takmirs. More and more people came before sunset. The Maghrib call to prayer echoed. Everyone who came had got their own bowl. The portion of the porridge is quite a lot, it contains "sayur jipang" with additional pieces of beef that looks tempting. Each portion also comes with a plastic bag filled with dates and a glass of tea or milk.

When eaten, the taste of the porridge is very tasty. Fragrant aroma of pepper and lemongrass wafted in every bite. These dense texture, with chopped carrots and bay leaves mixed in the porridge, the soft and chewy meat, plus the fresh and spicy taste of pepper from the vegetable broth completes the experience of breaking the fast there.