There is a deep philosophy behind cutting the top of nasi tumpeng. As far as we know, we give this part to the most honored or loved person. This procession is deemed as an important part, no wonder that it has become the peak of celebration. 

But don't you know that the way we usually cut it is actually a big mistake? As Muedjati Gardijito, the researcher of food and nutrition for University of Gadjah Mada said, tumpeng comes from Jawa, but it has been influenced by Hindu India's culture. 

She continued saying that its cone sharp is a representation of Mahameru mountain in India that is considered as a holy place for God. "On the top of tumpeng, there is only one grain of rice, that is a symbol of The One Almighty God, and the level is getting lower and is drawing people with its variety of attitude. At the bottom is imagined as the majority of people with average manners, while it's rare with a perfect attitude. That's why we can't trim the top's part because it actually violates the philosophy of connection between human and God," he said. 

Murdjati also explained that the way we trim the tumpeng has been influenced by west's culture, like we cut the cake. "It's indeed that we should cut the cake, but talking about tumpeng, we must eat it like we blockade it, it should be eaten together," said Murdjati. 

So, how to trim the tumpeng correctly?

"We should eat tumpeng together by hand, and start from the bottom, until the top is getting down, merging with the bottom part, or in Javanese term is called Manunggaling kawulo lan Gusti (The God is the place who all souls are come back)," said Murdjati. 

If you are uncomfortable eating tumpeng by hand, you can use a spoon. But you should remember to  cut tumpeng from the bottom part, not  from the top of the tumpeng.