TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The atmosphere in the Ngarsopuro Solo corridor, Central Java, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, was active as hundreds of residents welcomed the 2026 Jenang Solo Festival. Children, parents, and tourists crowded the corridor. Meanwhile, along Diponegoro Street, rows of stands offered varieties of jenang or porridge as part of the cultural agenda for the 281st anniversary of Solo.
Some residents brought plastic bags, while others watched the procession and artistic presentations. The aroma of jenang combined with the enthusiasm of residents anticipating free servings.
The event began with a cultural procession from Pasar Pon Intersection to the main stage in front of Omah Sinten. The procession was led by the Deputy Mayor of Solo, Astrid Widayani, followed by a ceremonial parade.
Astrid stated that the Jenang Solo Festival is an expression of gratitude and a prayer for community safety. "In Javanese culture, jenang is believed to be a symbol of seeking safety from God. Its sticky nature symbolizes the hope for the people of Solo to remain harmonious," she said during the event.
Astrid mentioned that this year is notable as the city's anniversary coincides with the Chinese New Year. The Solo City Government extended congratulations to the Chinese community as a symbol of harmony and diversity.
Residents scrambled for thousands of portions of Jenang or porridge that were distributed free of charge at the 2026 Solo Jenang Festival in the Ngarsopuro Corridor, Solo, Central Java, February 17, 2026. Tempo/Septhia Ryanthie
Distribution of Jenang
The peak of the event was the distribution of 15,000 containers of free jenang. Before the official signal, residents crowded around a large table filled with hundreds of portions.
The lack of strict supervision allowed residents to take the containers easily. As people succeeded in taking some, others pushed forward. Some climbed onto the serving table, while others used bags to collect the porridge.
Sri Hartini, 45, from Grogol, Sukoharjo, came to Solo to witness the festival and the free distribution session. She expressed joy in obtaining several cups of jenang for herself and her two children, despite the crowd. "I did jostle a bit earlier, but I eventually got three cups. It's quite satisfying for me," Sri told Tempo during the event.
Another resident, Lidwina Triharsanti, 50, from Banjarsari, Solo, mentioned she asked for help from others to secure a portion. "I asked the gentleman in front. 'Pak, please, pak. I'm asking,' like that. Then he gave it to me. It was indeed difficult, very crowded," she explained.
One participant, the Solo Paragon Hotel & Residences, provided 150 containers of corn porridge. Mahadewi Lourdes, the Marketing Communication of Solo Paragon Hotel & Residences, stated that the festival adds culinary diversity and strengthens social ties. "Jenang is not just a traditional dish, but a symbol of gratitude and prayers for goodness and prosperity, especially for the city of Solo," she said.
The Rejosari Market Traders Association's stand was also crowded. They prepared 100 containers of pearl porridge, which were taken quickly. "We prepared 100 containers of pearl jenang, but they were distributed in a short time, maybe less than five minutes," said a stand attendant.
Historical Roots and Symbol of Jenang
The Creative Manager of the 2026 Jenang Solo Festival, Heru Mataya, explained that this year's theme is "Nirmala Nusantara." There were 15,000 containers of jenang distributed to the public. He mentioned a new variant introduced this year, the nirmala jenang, intended as a symbol to ward off disaster. "The hope is for a prosperous Nusantara without disasters, and for a bright Indonesia," he said.
The Advisory Council of the Indonesian Jenang Foundation, KGPH Dipokusumo, explained that jenang has historical roots in the Boyong Kedhaton event, the relocation of the Kartasura Palace to the Village of Sala, which became Surakarta. Jenang, specifically the jenang suran known during the month of Sura, is not just a snack, but a symbol of prayer and tradition from the Surakarta Palace culture.
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