Sekaten

Night market to celebrate Sekaten

Sekaten (originated from Arabic word: Syahadatain) is a week long Javanese traditional ceremony, festival, fair and pasar malam (night market) commemorating Mawlid the birthday of prophet Muhammad, celebrated annually started on 5th day of (Javanese Calendar) Mulud month (Rabi' al-awwal Islamic Calendar). The festivities usually took place in northern alun-alun (square) in Yogyakarta, and simultaneously also celebrated in northern alun-alun of Surakarta. This ceremony originally were used by Sultan Hamengkubuwana I, the founder of Yogyakarta Sultanate to promote the Islamic faith.

Gamelan Sekaten

In day one, the ceremony started during the night by the royal parade of Abdi Dalem (keraton's guards and officials) accompanied by two set of Gamelan Sekaten named: Kyai Nogowilogo and Kyai Gunturmadu. The royal procession started in Pendopo (hall) Ponconiti towards Yogyakarta Great Mosque in northern alun-alun guarded by palace guards. The Kyai Nogowilogo gamelan will be placed at northern pavilion of Grand Mosque, while Gamelan Kyai Gunturmadu will be placed at Pagongan pavilion in southern side of the mosque. These two set of sacred gamelans will be played simultaneously everyday until the 11th day of Mulud month through seven consecutive days. During the last day the two gamelan will be returned back into the Kraton.

Tumplak Wajik

Two days before Grebeg Muludan, the ceremony called Tumplak Wajik was held in palace Magangan field in 4:00 PM afternoon. Thi ceremony is started by kotekan ceremony which incorporate sing traditional songs accompanied with rythmic hitting of kentongan (bamboo or wooden slit drum), lumpang (rice mortar and pestle), that marked the making of Gunungan which will be carried in Grebeg Mulud festival. The song played in this Tumplak Wajik ceremony is popular Javanese traditional songs, such as Lompong Keli, Tundhung Setan, Owal awil, etc.

Grebeg Muludan

The main event of Sekaten is called the Grebeg Muludan that held in 12th day (exactly during the birthday of Prophet Muhammad) starting in 8:00 AM in the morning. The main Gunungan (Javanese: mountain), a model of mountain made of sticky rice, sweets, various foods, crackers, fruits and vegetables, were guarded by 10 units of bregodo (brigade) of Kraton's royal guards: Wirobrojo, Daeng, Patangpuluh, Jogokaryo, Prawirotomo, Nyutro, Ketanggung, Mantrijero, Surokarso, and Bugis. The Gunungan will be carried in processions from Kemandungan through Sitihinggil and Pagelaran hall and finally ended in Grand Mosque. After the prayer, the Gunungan that symbolize the wealth and prosperity of Mataram Sultanate will be picked, fought over and ripped apart by the people that already waiting in the square, as they believed this objects is sacred and can bring luck, prosperity and wealth for their households. Usually these parts of Gunungan will be kept in the house or burried in the ricefields as the farmers believed this objects will make their fields fertile and free from locust, plagues, and any missfortune that might befell them.

References

• Yogyakarta Tourism Board