SOLO, Cultural Events

SEKATEN

     Sekaten is a traditional ceremony held annually in the Islamic month of Maulud to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. The history of Sekaten, going back more than 500 years to the year of 1478, was held for the first time during the golden age of the Demak Kingdom. The word sekaten is derived from the Arabic word Syahadatain, which means " I believe in One God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God". There are two important Sekaten ceremonies : the Opening and the Closing ceremonies with an interval of twelve days in between. The Opening ceremony starts with a royal procession that cairies the two huge sets of sacred gamelans from the Palace to the Great Mosque (Masjid Agung). The Closing ceremony, known as the Gerebeg Maulud, is the most interesting because after the procession bringing the gamelans back to the Palace, a "rice mountain" called Gunungan is cut up and distributed to the crowds of people who have gathered in the square. Many people believe that those who can get even a small part of the Gunungan will be blessed with happiness and prosperity. Beginning a few days prior to the Opening ceremony, at the North Square of the Palace, a Fair is held, day and night, which offers many attractions, traditional foods and handcraft goods. The Fair usually lasts about two weeks, ending one week after the Closing Ceremony.

KIRAB PUSAKA ( THE HEIRLOOM PROCESSION )

    On the eve of the Javanese New Year which falls on the first day in the month of Suro of the Javanese calender, heirloom processions are held at the Kasunanan Palace and the Mangkunegaran Palace. At the Kasunanan Palace, the sacred albino buffalo, called Kyai Slamet leads the procession followed by, among others, the Palace soldiers. The ceremony has been held for more than 250 years, beginning in the year 1633 when the Mataram Kingdom was ruled by Sultan Agung, one of the most famous Javanese kings.


 THE MALEMAN SRIWEDARI

  The Maleman, which is means "Night Fair", is traditionally held during the month of Ramadhan (according to the Islamic calender). This annual fair is held to commemorate the Nuzulul Qur`an, the time when the Holy Koran was first revealed to Muhammad. The highlight of the festifal falls on the eve of the 21st day of the month, when the procession parades a distance of two kilometers from Kasunanan Palace to Sriwedari Park where the Fair is held during the whole month.

YAQOWIYU

   Yaqowiyu or Ongkowiyu is an exiting annual festifal that take place on the 15th of Sapar (the second month of the Javanese calendar) at Jatinom, a quite village near Klaten, central Java, not far from Solo. The festifal is held in honor of the late Kyai Gribig, a prominent religious figure who lived in the area more than 400 years ago.