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The Garebeg Procession in Karatons In the morning of Garebeg, ten thousands of people standing in front of the Pagelaran, the front hall of Karaton, in Alun-alun Lor (north square). Between Alun -alun Lor and Masjid Besar (Great Mosque) around 500 M Northwest of Pagelaran is also crowded with on lookers, waiting for Garebeg procession.
The sound of drums, trumpets and music heard, coming out from
Pagelaran, then appear the Karaton soldiers with their specific colorful
uniforms, armed with their traditional weapons and old No wonder when Gunungan arrive in the mosque yard, they shall be 'attacked' by thousands of people, trying to get a small part of this offerings. The 'Lucky man' bring it home with a high spirit, shall eat it together with his family. The Gunungan of Garebeg is offering from the King for the safety and welfare of his country, his kingdom and his people. The prayer said in the mosque, requesting Gusti Allah (God Almighty) to protect the king, his kingdom and his people, to be always safe and prosperous.
The Garebeg is held three times in a year, namely :
What is the meaning of Garebeg ? The Garebeg ceremony originally was dated back in the 12th century of Majapahit era. After the fall of Majapahit, in Demak kingdom, the Garebeg was temporally stopped. The people, who always used to a such ceremony, were disappointed. Then the famous Wali (saint) Sunan Kalijogo proposed to the Sultan of Demak to revive the Garebeg. It was used to spread Islamic teaching and gamelan music was played nearby the mosque to attract people. Sunan Kalijaga was a very nice Wali, with his speeches he invited people to confess to Islam without besmirching the other beliefs. The playing of the Gamelan in this event is named 'Sekaten'. From that time to the present date, Sekaten always withdraw a big crowd. The Gunungan
Every gunungan is carried on shoulder by sixteen men from Karaton to the mosque. For Gunungan Lanang, two additional men are needed, holding two long canes to support the gunungan. PREPARATION of GUNUNGAN In Garebeg Maulud of DAL year, one additional Gunungan Kutug
/Bromo is also made, so the total is 31 gunungan. The procession begins in a ceremony called 'Numplak Wajik', in south Kemagangan Pavillion in Karaton, witnessed by the relative of Sultan - a senior Karaton's official, in the afternoon. A sound of music, called 'gejogan' played by hitting a lesung (wooden mortar for pounding rice) with alu (rice pestle) accompaniment of Kidung (ritual Javanese song) Tundung Setan (evil spirits chasing) and other ancient ritual songs. First turn to be arranged is the Gunungan Wadon in honor of the holy duties of women in the process of life creation. Some related offerings are given cosmetics, mirror, comb, sirih (betel leaves, areca nut, lime, gambier, tobacco), Tulak Balak cloth, a white sheet of fabrics and semekan (a cloth to cover chest). The gunungan are kept in the omah (house) of gunungan in east and west Kemagangan, ready for morning procession. GAMELAN SEKATEN in GAREBEG MULUD Each set consists of one saron demung, two saron barung, one saron penerus, two bendes, a set of kempyang and one bedug. Before the fifth day of month Mulud, these gamelans were prepared by cleaning and give them offerings. The gamelan players called Wiyogo, they have to purify their souls by one day fasting and take a bath and washing hairs and then attend the Kenduri/selametan (a pray by several peoples with some food offering requesting selamet (safety) from God. In the evening, on fifth of Maulud., the gamelan played in the palace compound to mark the beginning of sekaten. First played is Kyai Gunturmadu with the opening song of Gending Wirangrong. Several prince will give udik-udik (coins) to the musicians. At 11.00 p.m. the music stopped and sharp at midnight, the two sets of gamelan carried on shoulders to the mosque yard. Kyai Gunturmadu is placed in Pagongan Kidul, whereas Kyai Nogowilogo in in Pagangan Lor (Pagangan is a pavilion to keep the gamelan set in the mosque yard. Kidul means south; Lor means north). The gamelan is played continuously after morning (subuh) prayer. It is stopped at every Adzan (call to perform duty prayer) and also at Thursday night until Friday at noon for the Friday prayer. On the 11th of Mulud, at midnight sharp, the gamelan Kyai Gunturmadu and Kyai Nogowilogo, brought back to the Karaton.
The Visit of Sultan to The Mosque Then Sultan is entering the mosque, at the gate of the mosque veranda, he is greeted with full of devotion by the chief of Penghulu (priest), by kissing his hand. Sultan and all his escorts attend the reading of Prophet Muhammad biography and selawatan or invocation in accordance with Islamic religion. Before the ritual begins, Sultan goes inside the mosque give some donation and spreads udik-udik nearby the four main pillars of the mosque. After the selawatan, the chief of Penghulu offers melati and kantil flowers and put them on both side of his ear, others are doing the same thing. This old local tradition is called 'Caos Sumping' symbolizing holiness. Before midnight Sultan and his escorts left the mosque and return to Karaton. PALACE REGALIA
Before the procession, all the Manggung and other bearers of palace grandeur's objects and heirlooms must purify their bodies and souls, by fasting, bathing and others spiritual preparations. OTHER SACRED OBJECTS PUSAKA (HEIRLOOMS) AUDIENCE in Karaton Sembah : respectful greeting, made with palms together, fingertips upward, the two thumbs touching nose. Bekti : full of devotion or obedience. The Ratu and visitors are wearing traditional costume, the king is sitting on a chair with straight body, bent legs, both knee exposed in front of him.
The people who shall give Sembah Bekti are sitting cross-legged
on the flour/mat about one meter in front of the Ratu. From this position,
the man shall kneel and give sembah (as explained above) and then goes
forward to kiss the right kneel of the Ratu, his tip of nose touching
slightly the knee, his both palms is holding the knee of the king, saying
: An uncle of the King, who is a senior prince, comes forward and stops around two meters from the King, he kneels a bit whilst saying his greetings, he touch his left and right ears with his left and right hand thumb, the Sultan does the same thing. In the feudal times, any subordinates did not show up for Sembah Bekti, meant as unfaithful to king, should be punished. THE DEPARTURE of GUNUNGAN The inside procession starts from Bangsal Kencono (golden pavilion) to Bangsal Manguntur Tangkil in Sitihinggil. Meanwhile, the Patih (chief-minister) and other subordinates are waiting in Pagelaran , north of Sitihinggil. In Bangsal Manguntur Tangkil the king sits on his golden throne above the Selo Gilang (square stone), accompanied by some princes, dignitaries and his trusted men. Several units of Karaton soldiers are ready. 'Munggang' an ancient song was being played by Karaton music corps, then the different units of soldiers with their coat of arms, marching, saluting the king. They march downward to Pagelaran on the way to the mosque. The last unit of soldiers, the Mantrijero is bringing the gamelan 'Kyai Guntursari' which are always played during the procession. Then the gamelan Kyai Keboganggang and Kyai Gunturlaut are playing the song 'Kodok Ngorek'. Accompaniment with this music, the gunungan appear preceded by a Gagar Mayang (a bouquet of flowers and leaves implanted to a banana trunk). At first is Gunungan Kutug/Bromo with its smoke of burned incense, followed by 30 (thirty) gunungan of different types. The appearance of the gunungan is answered by salvos by all soldiers units and a cheer welcome by all attendants. The people in Alun-alun are shouting happily, they believe that they receive 'berkah dalem' (His highness blessings), their life should be a fortune, as for the villagers, their harvests should be successful. The procession is leaving Pagelaran. Firstly appear the Karaton soldiers, followed by Karaton high-ranking officials and domestic staffs, Princes and Patih. Polowijo and cebolan (the invalid staffs), the heirlooms, the king with his internal security soldiers, some heirlooms were protected by golden umbrellas and incense burning. All soldiers guard the procession and the king's appearance. In the mosque, led by the chief Penghulu a Kenduri is held. This is offering for Wilujengan Nagari (country safety), after that selametan dahar kembul (eating together for the safety of all people). After lunch, the king shall bring home a small portion of food (berkat) to be consumed symbolically by the princesses, so that the princesses too, should live in safety. Then the king and his escorts shall return to Karaton. Karaton Surakarta Hadiningrat Garebeg is organized by the Parentah Karaton (Palace Authority). The King, Susuhunan Pakoe Boewono XII in his domain, Sasono Hadi, orders a Karaton official, Mas Tumenggung Bupati to transmit to the related officials/Bupatis and Nayakas in Bangsal Marakata to carry out Garebeg ceremony. For Garebeg Mulud, the Karaton Gamelan Kanjeng Kyai Sekati, consist of K.K. Gunturmadu and K.K. Guntursari are taken out from Pendapi/hall Parangkarso. The abdi-dalem (court employees) Semut Ireng (Black Ants) carry on shoulders these gamelan to Great Mosque, West of North Square. First, K.K. Gunturmadu are placed in Bangsal Pradonggo in the Great Mosque. Entering the mosque's gate, the gamelans are played by abdi dalem Niyogo. During the Sekaten (fair commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad), the sound of the gamelans are always heard, except during praying times. These gamelans are brought back to the Palace to mark the end of Sekaten. Puro Pakualaman Amount of Gunungan Karaton Of Yogyakarta usualy makes 6 gunungan a.o.: Puro Pakualaman, it does not make the gunungan, it receives 1 Gunungan Lanang from Karaton of Yogyakarta. Javanese Traditional and Ritual Ceremonies
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shot guns. They are
bearing their different banners, marching elegantly in front of several Gunungan (Gunung = mountain) like food offerings, brought from
Karaton to the Great Mosque. In the mosque yard, these offerings shall be
distributed to the people. They believe this food, as a gift from Sultan
should bring fortune and happiness.
It is worth to note, that procession of carrying the gamelan from
Karaton to the mosque vice versa are very solemn procession, guarded by
some princes and other Karaton dignitaries as well as some units of
Karaton soldiers. No wonder, this procession also withdraws a huge crowd.
Among the Sultan's subordinates, there is a group of invalid people,
such as; crippled, albinos, dwarfs, etc. They are wearing red batik, with
big waistband, without shirts & caps. In the procession, there are
walking in front of the Manggung court ladies bearing the palace Regalia,
in the audience they are sitting nearby the Sultan. The Polowijo and
Cebolan are a proof that the Ratu (king) is taking a good care of them,
and although they are having physical defect, they can serve the country
as other normal human beings.