Processions behind Sekaten
Sekaten is a religious and cultural event, and a fair to be held at Kasultanan Ngayogyakarta (Yogyakarta) and Kasunanan Surakarta (Sala). This event is held to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, the foundedr of Islam. As we know Islam is the majority religion in Indonesia. In Yogyakarta, this event is full of spiritual ceremonies that should be done in a series. What are the processions from the start until the end?
Ziarah Pambuka
Ziarah Pambuka is a devotional visit to two tombs, Kotagede Burial and Imogiri Burial. The aim is to respect and to pray for the founder of Mataram (the former of Yogyakarta). At Kotagede, the pilgrims visit Panembahan Senopati’s grave. At Imogiri they visit the grave of former Kings of Yogyakarta. This year it take place on December 23, 2008.
Pasang Pathok
This is the ceremony to begin the preparation of the location of Sekaten. In Yogyakata, the location is always at Alun-alun Utara Kraton (North Square of Kraton Yogyakarta). On December 29, 2008.
Pambuka
It is the opening ceremony. In this ceremony, we can see various performances, the venue is on Alun-alun Utara or Pagelaran Kraton. Artists are performing their choreography, music arrangement and traditional singing. This is the most valuable time to be missed. The opening ceremony took place on January 30, 2009.
Miyos Gongso
This is the beginning event of sekaten when the sacred Gamelan Sekati that consists of Gamelan Kiai Nagawilaga and its replica Kiai Gunturmadu are taken out from the saving room at Bangsal Srimanganti to a prepared place at the Masjid Agung (Mosque) yard. The place for the gamelan is called ‘pagongan lor’ (north stage) and ‘pagongan kidul’ (south stage). The gamelan is played a week before the birthday of Prophet Muhammad at 12 Rabiul Awal or 12 Maulid. The date for this procession is on March 2, 2009.
Kondur Gongso
A night before 12 Mulid or before March 9, 2009, the gamelan will be taken back to its room at Bangsal Srimanganti. Before the ceremony, Sultan of Yogyakarta will attend at the porch of the Mosque to listen to the story of Prophet Muhammad. A chief of Kraton reads the story.
[ad#kotak336]
Grebeg Maulud
This event is the peak of Sekaten when the Grebeg Maulud comes out. This is the birthday of Muhammad, on 12 Maulud (March 9, 2009). Grebeg comes from the word “garebeg”, a cultural rite of Sultan to thank God for the blessing by giving alms for ‘abdi dalem’ (Sultans’s staff/servants) and ‘kawula dalem’ (the people). Gunungan Putri and Gunungan Kakung are the focus of grebeg. Gunungan is pyramidal offerings consists of food, vegetables and fruit. The people will compete to get everything from gunungan as they believe they will get prosperity. This procession is the end of Sekaten and the fair at Alun-alun utara Krataon.
Ziarah Panutup
This is the closing devotional visit to Kotagede and Imogiri tombs. It will take place on April 6, 2009.
[ad#ad-1]
Related Places
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Just after reading this blog I came to know that majority religion in Indonesia is Islam. This festival is looking great. It will be worth to visit Indonesia at the time of this Festival in the month of March.
[...] Kasodo cerermony every year. This cultural event is a worth event to witness among ceremonies like Sekaten and Ruwatan. For this year the rite were held at Friday (9/4/09). They held the initial ceremony [...]
Writing a good, need to promote tourism potential Yogya to all over the world, thanks