GREBEG

Grebeg is a ceremony to guard the important person like the King or Princess-Sri Sultan from Yogyakarta and Sri Sunan from Surakarta (Solo) go to Sitinggil and guarded with each warrior to give a certain adoration to the King of the King.

 Grebeg is hold 3 times in a year in Yogyakarta and Surakarta (solo) palace

Gerebeg Mulud Ceremony 

      Gerebeg Maulud is the climax of Sekaten. Held yearly on the 12th day of the 3rd month  of the Javanese calendar.

      The history of Grebeg Sekaten come from Wali Songo (sunan) especially Sunan Kali Jogo. It is one way to introduce Islam Religion to Indonesian people. In ancient time culture and art is very important. So Wali sogo made Grebeg Sekaten to showed to the people if just one God in this world. Allah SWT.

  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 

Gerebeg Syawal Ceremon

      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

 

 At that time, The Palace usually make a Gunungan. Gunungan is composed of a series of vegetables, fruits and snacks are arranged in such a way or a cone-shaped mountain.

Gunungan is a King charity to his people. Therefore, people are always scrambling to get a part of the mountains which is believed to have good luck.

SEKATEN CEREMONY

Yogyakarta, there were ceremonies called Sekaten or better known as Pasar Malam Perayaan Sekaten because before the ceremony was held the night market activity in advance for one full month.

 

Sekaten or ceremony Sekaten (derived from the word Syahadatein) is the anniversary of Prophet Muhammad held on the 5th of each month Mulud Java (early Rabi 'al-Hijra) in the square of Yogyakarta (and also in the square at the same Surakarta). This ceremony was once used by the Sultan Hamengkubuwono I, founder of the palace of Yogyakarta to invite the public to follow and embrace Islam.

On the first day, the ceremony begins at night with courtiers (yogyakarta palace trust people) together with two sets of Javanese Gamelan: Kyai Kyai Nogowilogo and Gunturmadu. 

 

This procession starts from the hall of the Great Mosque Ponconiti towards the north of the square, escorted by soldiers of the Palace. Kyai Nogowilogo will occupy the north side of the Grand Mosque, while Kyai Gunturmadu Pagongan will be in the south of the mosque. Both sets of gamelan to be played simultaneously until the date 11 months Mulud for 7 consecutive days. On the last night, the gamelan will be brought back into the Kingdom.

MOUNT MERBABU

Local people said that Mt. Merbaboe and Mt. Merapi were wife and husband. Merbaboe stand for “Meroe” and “baboe” these words mean woman mountain (merapi wife’s). Mt. Merbabu have many peaks, the highest ones is Kenteng Songo 3.142 masl (meter above sea level).

There are some trails, which can lead to the summit of the mountain. The most popular track is Kopeng Village from the north and Selo Village from the south.

From Semarang we can ride bus to Solo, but we must stop in Salatiga a small town between Semarang and Solo. We can continue with mini bus from Pasar Sapi to Kopeng. 

Kopeng is good place to relax, there are many hotels and inns, camping side and Umbul Songo waterfalls. Songo (nine) is a big number, local people in merbaboe describe the high of the waterfall and give the name of the waterfall Umbul Songo. Umbul means spring, and umbul songo is a spring from the high. Kenteng Songo is the name of the highest peak, and this means there are many stones (kenteng).

We can stay in a small hotel in Kopeng, to get rest before we climb the mountain. It is better to climb in the night, because climbing in the daylight is very hot. Moreover we must save the water to drink and cook. The water must be carried from the last village Thekelan or Cunthel. There is no water spring in the mountain.

The best basecamp to start hiking Mount Merbaboe is Cunthel 2,5 Km from Kopeng. You can ride Ojek (Motor Cycle) or rent a mini truck usually to carry the vegetables to the Cunthel Village.

The best time to climb mount Merbabu is at the night during dry seasons. Most of the trail are sandy grasslands and open area, so in the daylight it is very hot and dusty, more over we need much more drinking water. 

Between 15th Javaness Calendar, in the full Moon light, we can see some very nice views of some mountains surrounding mount merbabu, a long the night.

Yogyakarta Tourist Maps

SUNDAK BEACH-YOGYAKARTA

Sundak Beach, Asu and Urchin Fight which Reaping Blessing.

Sundak Beach not only has a fascinating natural scenery, but also keeps the story. Name 
Sundak turns to experience evolution evidences can be traced geologically.

In order to know its evolution, visitors must know first edge condition Sundak beach then and now. On the western edge of the beach when they visit the mosque and there is empty space that is now used as a parking lot. While in the east there are caves that are formed from coral rock approximately 12 feet altitude. Entering the cave, will be found natural wells where people get fresh water.

Region described above before the year 1930 remained under sea. It is said that water to a region that is now built mosque, which form the rock caves were still under water. As the geological processes on the southern coast, the sea surface to shrink and the water is indented into the sea. The coral reef and the area around the mosque became the new land which people used the beach for economic activity to date.

There is a unique natural phenomenon of the activity that eventually became the starting point of naming this beach. If the rainy season arrives, many of the inland water flowing toward the ocean. As a result, the plain on the east coast divide to form a shape like a river. Water that flows like mbedah (splitting) of sand. When drought comes, parts of it disappear and come along with sea water carrying sand. Natural phenomenon is what causes the name of the beach into Wedibedah (sand split).

The name change took place some decades later. Around the year 1976, there is an interesting event. One afternoon, a dog was running around in coastal areas and entered the cave coral met a sea urchin. Because the hungry, the dog tried to eat the sea urchin escape but the sea urchin. There was a fight that ultimately won the dog managed to eat half of the body with sea urchin and out of the cave with pride. The act known to the owner of the dog, named Arjasangku, saw half of the sea urchin's body in a dog's mouth. Checking into the cave, it turns out the owner found the body of sea urchin and a half remaining. Well, since then, the name changed to Sundak Wedibedah, abbreviation of asu (dog) and porcupine.

No warning, the fight was a blessing for locals. After decades of water shortages, residents finally found a spring. Initially, the wonder dog owner that his dog out of the cave with dripping wet. The hypothesis, in the cave there is water and the dog had drowned while chasing porcupines. After some investigations, the prediction turned true. Be present, the water in a cave used for the purpose of life. From inside the cave, now installed pipes for connecting with people. The findings of this spring treat disappointment because of the well established residents were inundated by sea water.

Well, if conditions in 1930 just as was said above, can be estimated conditions for hundreds of years earlier. Of course very many organisms that utilize the bottom of the reef which is now a cave and the area that is now the mainland. Therefore, many archeologists believe that as a consequence of geological processes that exist, many marine organisms are left behind and piled up as fossils. What fossils are found, indeed up to now has not been much research reveals.

Besides offering a silent witness of history, Sundak also offers an enjoyable evening. You can enjoy the evening breeze while ordering raw fish to be grilled with friends. By paying a few thousand, you can buy wood for fuel. If lazy, just order a mature, so be ready to eat. What is clear, do not be confused to find a place to stay. Visitors can sleep anywhere, set up a tent, or just lying on the bench tonight stall if unused.

SAPARAN BEKAKAK

Saparan Bekakak is a Traditional ceremony held by people of Gamping, Sleman. This ceremony have been practiced since the era of Sultan Hamengku Buwono I and held as a pray to God, to get freedom from disaster and illnes by slaughtering a couple of Bekakak (Bride Doll) which is made of sticky rice and javanese sugar.

slaughtering bride doll

This tradition is as old as the Yogyakarta Hadiningrat Royal Palace and it started with the story of a married couple who died in Mount Gamping.

Saparan Bekakak is usually performed in Ambar Ketawang Subdistrict, Gamping District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta. The slaughtering ceremony of Bekakak couple is held in Mount Gamping, approximately kilometers from the Ambar Ketawang village square.

MBAH MARIDJAN

Mas Penewu Surakso Hargo, better known as Mbah Maridjan ("Grandfather Maridjan") (5 February 1927– 26 October 2010) was the spiritual guardian or "gatekeeper" of the Indonesian volcano Mount Merapi. His birthplace was in the mountainside hamlet (Indonesian language-dukuh) of Kinahrejo, Umbulharjo Village, Cangkringan District, of the Sleman , on the island of Java in Indonesia

Mbah Maridjan

He was killed at the age of 83 by a pyroclastic flow that destroyed his home in the village of Kinahrejo during the 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi

Maridjan was the son of the previous guardian, Mbah Hargo. He was appointed to the palace staff of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, in 1970 and was given the title of Raden Ngabehi Surokso Hargo. He replaced his father as guardian in 1982.

   

The spiritual guardian of the mountain is believed by local people to have the power to speak to the spirits of Mount Merapi, which the Javanese consider to be a sacred mountain. Maridjan led ceremonies to appease the spirits of the volcano by presenting them with offerings of rice and flowers in and around the crater. One of his most important duties was the performance of the annual Labuhan sacrificial ceremony dedicated to the spirits of Mount Merapi. A procession from the royal palace on Yogjakarta led by the guardian sacrifices to the volcano spirits a set of ritual offerings including textiles, perfume, incense, money and, every eight years, a horse saddle. He described his job, for which he was paid $1 a month, as being "to stop lava from flowing down. Let the volcano breathe, but not cough.

Mbah Maridjan, led the Labuan ceremony on the slopes of Merapi

Maridjan was known for his dedication and loyalty to the king and became an Indonesian icon. He lived only about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the peak in his home village of Kinahrejo. Many villagers believed that he would be warned in a vision if an eruption was imminent. In May 2006, he refused to leave his village despite a mandatory evacuation order after scientists warned of an imminent eruption. He went with fifty other men to the village mosque when the volcano began to erupt. Following his example, a hundred other families also refused to evacuate. He was badly burned in a subsequent blast and spent five months in hospital after being rescued from his collapsed house. He became a popular hero because of his refusal to leave his village and his insistence that it was his duty to discharge his responsibility for the welfare of the people. He said that "the people of Kinahrejo feel that it was their destiny to be born to be a fortress to protect the welfare of the kraton (royal palace) and the people of Mataram (central Java)." During an interview in 2006, he said, "Everybody has their duty. Reporter, soldier, police, they have their duty. I also have a duty to stand here".