In Indonesia, Tumpeng is a cone-shaped serving of yellow rice accompanied by assorted side dishes usually synonymous with joyful celebrations. Usually, it served with seven assorted dishes, presenting different elements of foods, such as vegetables, sea and land animals. These dishes also offer various flavors, including sweet, sour and bitter, illustrating the different situations of life.

Despite the current popular ritual of cutting the top of the tumpeng and giving it to the honored guest in the room, Murdjati Gardjito, a researcher at food and nutrition center at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta said that one should start eating tumpeng from the bottom. Since tumpeng represents the relationship between humans and God, slicing the top of tumpeng means cutting the relationship with the Almighty.

Now, you can do no wrong to cut Tumpeng proper, okay?

Source: Five interesting facts about ‘tumpeng’