Drought Revives Cisadane River Tradition in South Tangerang
- 21 Jul 2026 12:52 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- South Tangerang residents revived the annual tikar ngaliwet tradition as prolonged dry weather caused the Cisadane River to recede.
- The lower water level has also allowed residents to swim, fish, and wash clothes, while officials reported a 12 percent decline in the river's flow.
RRI.CO.ID, Tangerang - Extended dry weather across Banten has led to a sharp drop in the water levels of the Cisadane River, prompting residents in South Tangerang (Tangsel) to gather along the exposed riverbanks for their annual tikar ngaliwet tradition.
The seasonal ritual takes place whenever the river recedes during the peak dry months between June and August. Local families lay out woven mats (tikar) along the riverbed to share traditional meals, such as nasi liwet (savory, spiced rice) and sayur asam (tamarind soup), which they havebrought from home.
Astuti, a local resident, shared that the drop in water levels transforms the riverbank into a temporary community gathering space.
"Every year when the Cisadane River recedes, residents roll out mats while enjoying home-cooked meals. It strengthens community ties while enjoying nature. Children and adults also jump into swim because the water is particularly clear during the dry season," Astuti said on Monday, July 20, 2026.
Beyond recreational gatherings, the prolonged dry spell has impacted local domestic water supplies, driving some households to use the river for daily chores as shallow wells dry up.
"During the dry season, household wells dry out, so many residents come down to the Cisadane to wash clothes, especially in the early morning," added Minar, another resident.
Data from the Cidurian-Cisadane River Basin Management Unit (UPTD DAS) indicates that the river's discharge rate has dropped by up to 12 percent. Officials attribute the decrease to reduced water flow from upstream tributaries in Bogor, West Java, alongside below-average rainfall over the past month.
With large sections of the riverbed now exposed, residents are also venturing into the middle of the river channel for recreational fishing and net casting. (Naura Sofia-EN)
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