Yogyakarta Hotels - All hotels in Yogyakarta
     
Yogyakarta Hotels
 
Yogyakarta Areas
Malioboro
Yogyakarta
Solo / Surakarta
Semarang
 
Visit Yogyakarta
Yogya Overview
Map of Yogya
Places of Interest
Yogya Travel Tips
Taxis & Transport
Yogya Shopping
Dance/Drama
Restaurant Guide
Emergency Info
Yogya Festivals
Yogya Temples
Other Info
Yogya FAQs
 
Email us
YogyakartaHotels.com
Important Yogyakarta Festivals
 
Grebeg Syawal Gerebeg Besar Sekaten
Gerebeg Mulud Labuhan Ceremony Tanggap Warsa Suro
Pitcher Filling Saparan Art Festival


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.


Return to Top

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 October & November 2008
 
October Festivals
Grebeg Syawal Ceremony
 

Dates: October 01, 2008
Place: Various Venues
Description:
Held yearly on the 1st day of the 10th month of the Javanese calendar (Syawal) at the end of Ramadhan, 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.

Hari Raya Idul Fitri
 

Dates: October 01 - October 02, 2008
Place: Various Venues
Description:
Celebrating the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, Idul Fitr is a special time for Muslims throughout Indonesia. As well as religious ceremonies and prayer meetings, Idul Fitr is a time to be with friends and families and it's common to share a special meal; often this is a traditional Indonesian dish called ketupat a sticky rice with banana leaves. Many Muslims take the opportunity to travel to see family members during this time.

Lebaran Week
 

Dates: October 02 - October 09, 2008
Place: Various Venues
Description:
Marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Lebaran Week is a series of religious and cultural events that take place in various locations throughout Indonesia. Events range from prayer ceremonies in mosques to music and food events in public spaces.

Labuhan Nelayan Pantai Pandan Simo
 

Dates: October 05, 2008
Place: Yogyakarta
Description:
Traditional ceremony of Labuhan which is held by around society pandan simo beach meant for salvation.

Yogyakarta Anniversary Celebrations
 

Dates: October 07, 2008
Place: Yogyakarta
Description:
Located in the south of central Java, Yogyakarta is renowned for it classical Javanese art, architecture and culture. Each year, the Anniversary Celebrations embrace these qualities through a series of competitions, exhibitions, food events and cultural performances. A friendly atmosphere pervades the event and visitors are invited to join in the celebrations and learn more about the region's proud and passionate cultureI.

 
Return to Top
 
November Festivals
Dulkaidah Pringtali
 

Dates: November 23, 2008
Place: Yogyakarta
Description:
The ceremony of the feeling expression thank heavens to the Lord on the abundant yield.

Jodhangan
 

Dates: November 30, 2008
Place: Yogyakarta
Description:
The traditional ceremony that was carried out as the feeling expression thank heavens to the Lord.

 
Return to Top
Yogyakarta Hotels - wayang kulit
Yogyakarta Religious Festivals 

There are any number of important religious & cultural ceremonies that take place throughout the year in Yogyakarta.

As you wiil note, ceremonies are scheduled according to the Javanese calender. The Javanese calender was developed by Sultan Agung, of the Mataram Islam Kingdom, during the 16th century and is a blend of the Caka (Hindu) calender and Arabic (Islamic) calender.

For your information festivals are named for the month or time of year the celebration is held. For example, the word Grebeg literally means the noise of people cheering while the word Syawal, Mulud etc. refers to the month the festival is being held.

Also be advised that Islamic religious holidays are based on a lunar calendar and the dates change yearly.

© Copyright CV. Informatika 2002 - 2008 All rights reserved.