Bengkulu Octopus Festival: Savouring the Popular Sambal Langat Octopus Dish

Hundreds of kilograms of cleaned octopus were gathered at Merdeka Square in Kaur Regency, Bengkulu Province, on Saturday, 23 May 2026. All necessary cooking ingredients, including coconut milk, eggplants, and kitchen equipment, were adequately prepared. Chef Dinda Alamanda, assisted by local women from Kaur Regency, skillfully prepared the sambal langat octopus dish. In the presence of most regional leaders across Bengkulu and the general public, Chef Dinda Alamanda and the local women demonstrated their cooking prowess in preparing sambal langat octopus. ‘The cooking method for sambal langat octopus is similar to rendang, but while rendang is dry, sambal langat retains a thick, gravy-like consistency,’ said Kaur Regent Gusril Pausi on Saturday, 23 May 2026. In addition to octopus, a staple for Kaur residents, sambal langat is mixed with green eggplants commonly found in local gardens. ‘Green eggplants are a common vegetable in Kaur’s gardens, often used as an additional ingredient. Hence, they are frequently added to the octopus sambal langat curry,’ the regent added. After approximately three hours of cooking in large pots, the sambal langat octopus was served to guests at the 2026 Octopus Festival. The octopus sambal langat curry resembles rendang but is wetter and soupier. Within hours, the dish was completely consumed by invited guests and the public. The Octopus Festival is an annual event organised by the Kaur Regency Government in Bengkulu Province. It is eagerly anticipated by locals and tourists alike. The festival features various performances, including a community celebration and mass octopus cooking. Each year has a different theme; in 2025, the focus was on cooking octopus curry using squid ink.