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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