THE Johor government is working to nominate Johor’s Biryani dish and Zapin dance as Intangible Cultural Heritage under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Yayasan Warisan Johor (YWJ) director Sharil Nizam Abdul Rahim said he was confident that Johor’s Biryani dish and Zapin dance could meet the criteria set by UNESCO to get the recognition.
He, however, said that efforts to publicise the two heritages of the state needed to go through various processes and stages.
“The conditions and criteria under UNESCO to gazette a heritage are strict, including making a presentation, getting expert help and so on.
“The process towards the effort to gazette it will also take time, maybe four to five years,” he said at a press conference after the launching ceremony of Johor Biryani as Johor’s heritage food recently.
Sharil Nizam explained that the Johor Biryani, for example, was significant to the state’s historical relationship with other countries such as India, Persia and others, which were connected through the spice and diplomatic trade.
He said that factor had simultaneously influenced the food culture in the state which continued to this day.
He added that the Johor Biryani dish was unique because there were two types — the regular Biryani and Biryani Gam — and is served with side dishes such as pindang eggs (braised hard-boiled eggs) and garam berlada besides the usual side dishes such as acar (pickles).
“This is what sets Johor Biryani from others apart,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the Zapin dance, which was popular in the state, was performed at various types of events in each district. – BERNAMA
