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Relgious Ceremonies
Gerebeg
Syawal Ceremony
Held yearly on the 1st day of the 10th month of the Javanese calendar
(Syawal) at the end of Ramadhan, (see schedule) the Muslim holy
month of fasting, Gerebeg Syawal is the celebration held to commenorate
the completion of the Muslim faithful's fasting duties. The ceremony
is similar to the Gerebeg Mulud ceremony with its colourful Gunungan
procession from the Kraton to the Grand Mosque (see below).
Gerebeg
Besar
Held yearly at the Sultan's Palace on the 10th day of the last month
of the Javanese calendar (Besar) to commenorate Abraham's test of
faith when challenged to sacrifice his one and only son. The celebration
is held on Idul As'ha (an Indonesian National Holiday) with Muslim's
slaughtering goats and cows and then distributing the meat and giving
alms to their poorer brethern.
Sekaten
Ceremony
Held yearly beginning on the 5th day of the 3rd month of
the Javanese calender (Mulud),
and extending for one week and culminating with the Gerebeg Maulud
Ceremony (below). Sekaten commenorates
the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Beginning at midnight a procession
of royal servants, Abdi Dalem,
leaves from the Kraton Ponconiti Hall
and marches two abreast carrying two sets of gamelan
named Kyai Nogowilogo and
Kyai Gunturmadu down Jl. Malioboro to the Grand Mosque. The
two sets of gamelan are played simultaneously until the 11th day
of Mulud when they are returned to the Kraton at midnight. Yogyanese
believe that by celebrating Sekaten and in particular listening
to gamelan they will be rewarded with good health and prosperity.
Gerebeg
Mulud Ceremony
Gerebeg Maulud is the climax of Sekaten.
Held yearly on the 12th day of the 3rd month of the Javanese calender,
the Grebeg Maulud ceremony commences in the morning with the Palace
Guards in traditional uniforms parading a Gunungan
(a mountain shaped cone of rice surrounded by fruits, vegetables,
eggs, peanuts and so on symbolising the prosperity of the Mataram
Kingdom) from the Kraton to the Great Mosque on Jl. Malioboro After
prayers at the Mosque are finished, the rice cone is cut and the
food distributed to those in attendance.
Labuhan
Ceremony
Held yearly in April to celebrate the birth of Sri Sultan Hamenkubuwono
as well as to secure the welfare of the Sultan and hence the people
of Yogyakarta. The word Labuh means
to throw something into a river or sea. As such offerings from the
Sultan include food, hair and nail clippings and so on are thrown
into the South Sea at Parangkusumo Beach in honour of Kanjeng
Ratu Kidul (Goddess of the South Sea). Similar ceremonies
are held atop Mt. Merapi and Mt. Lawu in Central Java. Start times
for the festivities will be announced in the local papers.
Tanggap
Warsa Suro
Held each year during the first month of the Javanese
calendar (Suro) this ceremony celebrates
the Javanese New Year with extravagent wayang
kulit (leather puppet) and other dance performances.
Pitcher
Filling Ceremony
Another ceremony held each year in the first month of the
Javanese calender (Suro) is the
Pitcher Filling ceremony at Imogiri (the Royal Cementary). The people
of Imogiri believe that water brings good fortune and fill 4 large,
bronze vessels with water then place them at the entrance to the
cemetary. The pitchers are from Myanmar (Nyai
Siem); Rome (Kyai Mendong);
Aceh (Kyai Danumoyo) and Palembang
(Nyai Danumurti).
Saparan
Ceremony
An offering ceremony held yearly in the second month of
the Javanese calender (Sapar) by the the people in Ambarketawang,
Gamping (approximately 7km to the west of Yogyakarta). At one time,
locals of Ambarketawang made their living digging limestone that
is believed to be some 50 million years old. Nowadays the limestone
is mostly gone (or too hard to find) but the people still believe
that they must make offerings to the area to advoid calamity. So
early on offering day the residents make a procession of offerings
to the area culminating when a Bekakak (bride and groom dolls made
of sticky rice filled with red sugar syrup) are beheaded.
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Please be advised that this page is
updated monthly for the succeeding two months ie. for events in July
please check back in June.
| Yogyakarta
Festivals & Events July & August
2010 |
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July Festivals
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| Yogyakarta Art Festival |
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Dates:
June 07 -July 07 , 2010
Place: Museum Benteng Vredeburg , Yogyakarta .
Description: The Art Festival in Yogyakarta includes a wide array of artistic performances like dance, music, mask dancing and puppetry. The festival is also known as "Kesenian" in the local language. The Art Festival has innumerable active participants and foreign tourists often visit Yogyakarta at the time of the festival to witness the various traditional activities and learn much about the various cultures in and also around Indonesia.There are various kinds of artifacts sold in the art exhibitions that take place during the festival. You can buy traditional Indonesian items and carry them back with yourself as souvenirs that emanate the very essence of the place you have visited.
The visitors also get to meet the various artists and craftsmen in person and learn from them more about their performances and skills.During the Art Festival, there is also an exhibition held at the city's Vredenburg Fort that used to serve as the home of the Dutch Colonial Army and was refurbished to its former glory in 1980.There numerous activities and brilliant performances that will keep you engaged for the entire day. The puppet shows and the Topeng, Anguk and Kuda Lumping dances are really interesting to watch. There is a lot to learn about the artistic ideas of the community and the interaction between the artists and the general people helps in exchange of valuable ideas. The Yogyakarta Art Festival aims at making Yogyakarta the cultural hub of Indonesia. It brings out all the hidden talents from the most obscure areas. The Art Festival truly does a lot to help preserve and promote Indonesian culture
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| Cing-Cing Goling Ritual Ceremony |
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Dates:
July 01 , 2010
Place: Gedangrejo, Karangmojo, Gunung Kidul , Yogyakarta .
Description: Traditional ceremony is held to memorized
the journey of Kyai Wisang Sanjaya and his wife from Majapahit
Kingdom to Gedangan village safety. It is held by the people
of Gedangrejo, Karangmojo, Gunung Kidul.
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| Rejeban Gondang Ho Gunung Kelir |
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Dates:
July 06 , 2010
Place: Gunung Kelir, Jatimulyo, Girimulyo , Yogyakarta .
Description: Traditional ceremony that was held in
Holiday's village, Jatimulyo, Girimulyo, below Mounth Kelir
as the application of safety to the Lord.
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| Grebeg Selarong |
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Dates:
July 11 , 2010
Place: Selarong Cave , Guwosari, Bantul , Yogyakarta .
Description: In this ritual the local people execute
a parade of ?Jodhang? (the traditional wooden container) going
on with a prayer and a ritual meal purposed to thank God for
His favor of good luck.
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| Tinggalan Jumenengan Dalem |
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Dates:
July 11 , 2010
Place: Tratag Bangsal Kencono Yogyakarta Palace , Yogyakarta .
Description: The anniversary of the innaguration of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. The ceremony in order to request safety of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, at Tratag Bangsal Kencono Yogyakarta Palace.
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| Anniversary of Bantul Regency |
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Dates:
July 20 , 2010
Place: Bantul Regency , Yogyakarta .
Description: The birthday of Bantul will be celebrated
on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, in Bantul city with a cereminy
performed in Javanese Language, the participants of which
wear Javanese traditional clothings of Yogyakarta style.
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August Festivals
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| Nyadranan Makam Sewu |
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Dates:
August 02 , 2010
Place: Sewu Funeral, Pandak, Bantul, Yogyakarta .
Description: Traditional ceremony of Nyadranan (a ceremony to pay homage to ancestoral spirits in Ruwah month of Javanese Calendar) in Makam Sewu, Pandak, Bantul.
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| Indonesia Independence Day |
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Dates:
August 17 , 2010
Place: various venue , Yogyakarta .
Description: The Independence Day of Indonesia was officially proclaimed on 17th August, 1945 at 10.00 a.m. sharp on Friday. With this declaration started the five year diplomatic and armed-resistance of the Indonesian National Revolution, fighting against the Netherlands until they officially acknowledged Indonesia's independence in 1949.The Indonesian Independence Day is a very big event for the people of Indonesia. Preparations for this patriotic day start weeks ahead before the 17th of August. All high-rise office buildings around town are decorated with large banners and lighted designs. Fences around the presidential palace and many government offices are draped in red and white streamers. The malls are all decorated in red and white and hold Independence Day sales for the people. Lots of money is spend by the city administration to create a unique series of red and white lighted decorations.
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| Malam Selikuran |
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Dates:
August 30 , 2010
Place: Various Venue , Yogyakarta .
Description: Traditional ceremony which is held by Javanese people in order to wait for coming Lailatul Qodar's night (the night with a thousand months).
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