Gresik is one of the regencies in East Java that is said to have various nicknames. The number of nicknames pinned to this district cannot be separated from the various characteristics and cultures that grew up there. The City of Wali, is the one of many, this nickname does not merely appear out of thin air. The regency, which is located on the east coast of the island of Java, is the residence of two of the nine existing wali songo, therefore, it is worthy that Gresik bears the nickname. In addition to the that name, Gresik is also known by the nickname Santri City. This is because Gresik is a district that has many Islamic boarding schools and is closely related to the fondness of the Islamic religion.
One of the characteristics that support the nickname of The City of Wali, Santri City, and the religiosity side of Gresik Regency is the tradition of "Malam Selawe". This tradition is carried out in the month of Ramadan. By the word Selawe which means twenty-five, Selawe Night is held every 25th day of Ramadan as a marker of the peak night of Ramadan. Tonight is believed by the public to be a night of blessings. The series of Malam Selawe activities began with worship at the mosque which was then followed by a pilgrimage visit to the tomb of Sunan Giri. This Islamic tradition is not only followed by the Gresik people, but also by many Muslims from outside the Gresik region who participate in enlivening this activity. It is undeniable that Malam Selawe has always been successful in presenting a warm and festive atmosphere.
Not only Malam Selawe, but there is also a religiosity side inserted in the cultural arts attractions of the regency located between Surabaya and Lamongan. The art of "Pencak Macan" is a tradition that is usually carried out as a wedding motorcade or simply displayed in entertainment performances. In addition to remaining overwhelmed by the peculiarities of the Islamic religion, Pencak Macan is also inseparable from a very thick cultural tradition. The art of the Pencak Macan society tells about the dynamics of human life, especially in terms of married life which is full of twists and turns. The religious touch implied in it seems to give an image for man to always remember God Almighty with all His greatness.
Like endless sand on the seashore, this district with many nicknames also has a very diverse tradition. Through art that depicts the life of the Gresik people, Damar Kurung, which is full of religious symbols, has successfully become an activity that displays the artwork of a lamp lantern with a rectangular shape. On each side, Damar Kurung contains an overview of the life of the people of Gresik City which is displayed in a two-dimensional work of art. The paintings on each side are covered by the viscosity of Islam, such as depictions of recitation activities, prayers, and festivals of Islamic celebrations in Gresik.
In addition to being The City of Wali and the City of Santri, Gresik also has the nickname Pudak City. Pudak is one of the typical foods that tourists custom to. Not only the taste is distinctive, but Pudak itself is also coated with ope which existence is rarely found. Not only Pudak, but Gresik also has another special food, namely Jubung. Jubung is a legendary snack with a delicious taste made from black glutinous rice mixed with sesame and wrapped in betel nut bark. This typical jenang-shaped snack takes a lot of time in the process of making it. In addition, Gresik also has Krawu Rice as a special food served along with meat stews, beef slices, beef offal, and shrimp paste.
Starting from community art, and religious traditions, to food, Gresik has a variety of characteristics that cannot be missed. Not only in terms of religiosity, if you look deeper, the modernization, industry, and tradition sides also run and grow side by side in Gresik. This is what makes Gresik one of the unique districts and worth visiting. Therefore, it is appropriate that the nickname received by Gresik Regency be maintained, so that it is not lost and only the name remains, but also preserved as a form of appreciation for the existing culture and traditions.
