KAMBANG – Imagine a village decorated with towering green durian trees, their leaves swaying gently in the morning breeze. It is here, in Akad Village, Kambang, Lengayang, Pesisir Selatan, West Sumatra, that every time durian season arrives, life becomes more lively. This small village seems to be transformed into a lively festival, full of stories, aromas and laughter.
When durian began to fall from old trees that had stood strong for decades, the villagers were busy welcoming the harvest. A “thud!” The characteristic sound of durian fruit falling to the ground is heard almost every time, indicating good fortune that never breaks promises. Children run around excitedly, picking up freshly fallen durians, bringing them home with adorable laughter.
Busy Morning
When the sun was not yet high, the women in Akad Village were already busy in the kitchen. The distinctive aroma of Kambang coffee mixed with the smell of freshly opened durian skin wafts through the air. The fathers usually collect durian under large trees on the banks of small, calmly flowing rivers. Their hands are skilled at opening durians, revealing the golden yellow flesh of the fruit, tempting anyone who sees it.
In every corner of the village, chatter about the quality of this year’s durian echoes. Some say that this year’s Kampung Akad durian is more delicious than usual, with a perfect sweet and slightly bitter taste. “This durian is our ancestral durian, the taste never disappoints,” said a village elder proudly.
Durian Market in the Middle of the Village
In the afternoon, the impromptu durian market started to get busy. Immigrants from outside the village, even from the cities of Padang or Painan, flock to try the Kampung Akad durian which is famous for being delicious and fragrant. At this market, not only fresh durian is sold. There are durian dodol, lempok, and durian sticky rice which are mandatory dishes when the season arrives.
“Try it first, ma’am, this durian is very sweet, it comes from the tree behind my house!” said a mother to a buyer, offering durian with fresh, thorny skin.
Evening Rituals: Durian and Stories
When night falls, the atmosphere becomes even more magical. Under the durian tree lit by dim lights, the villagers gathered. The children sat in a circle listening to stories from their parents about the first durian tree planted by their ancestors. The tree is now very old, but still faithfully produces fruit.
Stories spread from word of mouth, from stories about sacred durian trees to funny stories about durian falling on someone’s head while trying to climb a tree. Laughter and the smell of durian mix into memories that are hard to forget.
A Hopeful End to a Season
When the durian season began to end, there were mixed feelings in the hearts of the residents of Akad Village. Happy because durian has brought good fortune, but also a little sad because the warm atmosphere will be reduced. However, the durian trees in this village will continue to bear witness to their stories and lives, waiting for the next season to once again unite residents in irreplaceable festivities.
For the people in Akad Village, durian is not just a fruit. It is a legacy, a story, and a bond of brotherhood. When durian season arrives, Kampung Akad is not just a small village on the South Coast, it becomes a center of happiness, a place where traditions, flavors and stories blend into one. (Hendry Kampai)
