The changes in the traditional food serving patterns in the Ganti Langse traditional ceremony in Ngawi, Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a philosophical study and symbolic meaning

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world for almost two years also had an impact on the implementation of traditional ceremonies. The implementation of traditional ceremonies in pandemic situations was carried out simply to reduce COVID-19 transmission. The simplification of traditional ceremonies certainly affects the pattern of traditional food served in the traditional ceremony. This study aimed to describe the changes in the pattern of traditional food serving in the Ganti Langse traditional ceremony in Palenggahan Ageng Srigati, Babadan Village, Ngawi Regency, Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as its philosophical meaning. The data in the study was collected through observations and interviews. The data analysis was done with an interactive analysis model. The results showed that there was a change in the pattern of traditional food serving in the Ganti Langse traditional Ceremony in Palenggahan Ageng Srigati in an effort to reduce COVID-19 transmission. The changes found include the change in the food-making patterns and the change in food serving containers. In addition, each traditional food in the Ganti Langse traditional ceremony has a philosophical meaning attached to the social life of the Babadan Village community. This research revealed that changes in the cooking and serving of the food in the Ganti Langse traditional ceremony do not change the meaning of the food in the social life of the people of Babadan Village.