Meugang, Acehnese tradition before the fasting month

Tomorrow is the first day of Ramadhan, a fasting month. In Aceh, people have a unique tradition to welcome the holymonth. A day before fasting, all people consume beef, this tradition is called Meugang. On this day, all people cook beef and serve it to their family.

For Acehnese, Meugang before the fasting month is a must, every family does it. No matter how poor the family seem to be, they would do their best to get enough beef for their family.
This Meugang tradition is also conducted on a day prior to eid day (both fitri and adha). So, there are three times of Meugang in a year.

The beef sellers are available from the night until the morning, these sellers are not from traditional market, it can be anyone who has cow farm. If you have some cows at your house and want to sell one of them, sell it on this Meugang tradition, the price is good for the sellers, you won't lose money because the beef are in high demand. Buyers get 1 Kilogram of beef for Rp. 150. 000 - 170. 000.

Last night, I went to a traditional market where beef were sold. The market was very crowded, but it was fun to walk there. I shot some photos showing the atmosphere.

See the crowd?

Entrance point

From now on, you'll see beef everywhere...

This market is open until the morning. So, some people buy the beef in the night and some other do it in the dawn, and the rest is in the morning. Most people buy more than 1 Kg of beef. My family buy 3 Kg, it usually lasts for few days.

My mother usually cook various beef foods every Meugang, my favorite are beef curry and beef soup. The curry is all meat, but the soup is all bone with a veru little meat on it. We call it Sop Tulang/bone soup. Below is the beef curry I am talking about

Beef curry

This is the end of the post. I hope you enjoy it, and uh, I am sorry for posting many pictures. For some people, meat pictures are eyesoring, I am also sorry for that one.

Thank you for stopping by