Pelangas – A warm, friendly atmosphere filled the yard of Miftahul Jannah Mosque, Pelangas Village, Bangka Barat Regency, on Friday (7/10/2026), as the community held Nganggung or communal Dining Durian. It was a part of Babel Durian Contest, while also introducing local cultural richness to guests from various regions.
Hundreds of residents gathered, bringing a variety of dishes and durians from their plantation to share. This tradition is not only an expression of gratitude for the harvest, but also a moment to strengthen ties among the community.
The Head of the provincial Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Sports Office of Kepulauan Bangka Belitung (Babel), Wydia Kemala Sari, appreciated the implementation of traditions that are considered to have great potential as cultural tourism attractions.
“This kind of event can be turned into cultural attraction. We will promote it to make it widely known. Not only do they attract local communities, but also domestic and international tourists. It's so fun to enjoy durian together, and the people seemed really enthusiastic,” she said.
According to Wydia, tourist attractions were not only natural beauty or culinary delights, but it was also traditions and strong sense of togetherness among the community.
Meanwhile, the Head of Pelangas Village, Hermin, expressed his gratitude to all the villagers who worked together to success the event.
"This annual agenda has been carried out since the time of our grandparents when our trees in kelekak or field are fruiting. This year we hold it during the Durian Contest. Furthermore, besides strengthening social bonds, it also supports MSMEs," said Hermin.
It was also attended by Bangka Belitung culinary influencer, Koko Bangka Ngin, who was known for his signature phrase, hosit, which means very delicious. He admitted being impressed by the sense of togetherness shown by the villagers.
“This event is amazing. The sense of community in Pelangas Village is very harmonious and peaceful. I see the Chinese and Malay communities working together to promote tourism. It's really extraordinary,” he said.
Koko kept saying hosit several times while tasting the durian as a way to show his appreciation for the taste.
At the same time, the provincial government also held a Familiarization Trip (Famtrip) from July 9–12, 2026, to support the Pesona Budaya Jerieng 2026 event, which included Taber Laot, the Durian Festival, and Sedekah Bumi in Rambat Village, Pelangas Village, and Air Limau Village, West Bangka Regency.
The purpose was to introduce Babel's attractions to tourism industry players while opening up opportunities for tour package collaborations, business transactions, and tourism business matching.
Several travel agencies from various regions joined the Famtrip, including Panorama Destination Jakarta, Travel 10 Jakarta, Agatha Tour Tangerang-Banten, Kencana Wisata Batam, and DDM Tour Palembang. They mingled with the locals during the Nganggung, enjoying Pelangas’s special durians while experiencing the warmth of the local culture firsthand.
Through the collaboration of preserving traditions, promoting destinations, and involving tourism industry players, the provincial government hopes that local culture like Nganggung Durian can grow into an annual flagship event, boosting tourist visits while also giving an economic impact to the local community.
