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‘Sekaten’ celebration to start on Friday
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Royal servants and family members of the Kasunanan Palace in Surakarta, Central Java, walk to the Surakarta Grand Mosque, where a musical performance will mark the start of "Sekaten."
(JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
K
asunanan Palace in Surakarta, Central Java, will hold the annual religious ceremony Sekaten, a long-standing tradition to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, on Friday.
Kraton head of administration Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Haryo (KGPH) Dipo Kusumo said the ceremony would start after Friday prayer and end on Dec. 1.
Similar to the previous years, Sekaten will be opened with a gamelan music performance.
Prior to the ceremony, the palace's abdi dalem (royal servants) will carry two sets of gamelan, namely Kyai Guntur Sari and Guntur Madu, from the royal palace to the Surakarta Grand Mosque.
The event will continue with an ungeling gangsa ceremony, a visit from the palace representative ordering abdi dalem to beat the Javanese traditional instrument.
Read also: Sekaten: A royal celebration to welcome Maulid Nabi
As the abdi dalem begin to play the gamelan, vendors bring a quid usually consisting betel leaf, areca nut and lime to mosque visitors. It has been a long tradition for the people to chew betel while listening to gamelan music.
Dipokusumo said the abdi dalem would be playing the gamelan continuously from morning until night for one week.
In addition to the gamelan ceremony, Tempo.co reported that the Sekaten ceremony would also feature Garebek Sekaten — an event that allows people to obtain two pieces of the gunungan, or cone-shaped offerings, comprised of fruits and vegetables prepared by the palace.
In addition to the traditional ceremonies, the event will also host the Sekaten Night Market featuring traditional games and a handicrafts bazaar. (jes/asw)
