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Jakarta Post

Boyong Kedaton Carnival commemorates relocation of Surakarta palace

Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post)
Surakarta, Central Java
Mon, February 19, 2018

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Boyong Kedaton Carnival commemorates relocation of Surakarta palace Dancers from Surakarta Institute of the Arts perform in the colossal adeging kutha sala dance on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, Surakarta, Central Java, on Feb. 18. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)

T

he city of Surakarta celebrated its 273rd anniversary, highlighted by the Boyong Kedaton Carnival held on Feb. 18. Thousands of people flocked to Jl. Slamet Riyadi, for a 5-kilometer cultural parade from Sriwedari Stadium to Fort Vastenburg in Gladag.

The carnival involved 3,000 performers from performing art groups, military personnel, creative economy communities from 51 villages in Surakarta, and hundreds of workers from the Surakarta palace.

Read also: Enjoying legendary 'Jenang' in Surakarta

Boyong Kedaton is a carnival depicting the relocation of Kartasura Palace. The establishment of the Surakarta palace is the foundation of the city of Surakarta.

King Pakubuwono II took the kingdom’s household on a march to the new palace in 1745. The Keraton Kartasura itself was destroyed during an attack led by Raden Mas Garendhi, also known as Sunan Kuning, a distant relative of the king. The attack was called Geger Pecinan, started by Chinese insurgents who revolted in Batavia ( now Jakarta) and continued to larger part of Java.

During the relocation, the heirlooms and assets of the kingdom were also taken along, including a pair of weeping fig trees, a set of gamelan instruments and the musicians, and pets of the palace such as birds, elephants, tigers, deer, and oxen. The carnival, held annually by Surakarta, depicts the relocation.

“The carnival is a commemoration of the relocation, so we create a setting that is as similar as possible,” said the head of the Surakarta city tourism board, Basuki Anggoro Hexa.

Thousands of people that flocked to Jl. Slamet Riyadi fully enjoyed the carnival as it was also a Car Free Day on the premises. The event was lively, with spectators filling the road.

“I came all the way from Wonogiri to attend. I’m curious about how the palace relocation,” said 23-year-old college student Arif Suherman.

The performers showcased their acts during the parade, while gamelan players constantly played Javanese songs such as “Sekar Melati”, “Caping Gunung” “Sinom Parijotho”, “Jenang Gulo”, and “Andum Basuki”. Other performances came from a marching and the Wayang Wong Sriwedari group. The Sepeda Onthel community and a barongsai dance also graced the parade.

Read also: A mash of Chinese New Year, cultural diversity in Surakarta

The carnival culminated with a colossal adeging kutha sala dance staged on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, Gladag, performed by more than 200 dancers from the Surakarta Institute of the Arts (ISI Surakarta) and a number of dance troupes.

Adeging kutha sala depicts the aggression led by Mas Garendi toward the palace, followed by a battle scene between the soldiers of the palace and the insurgents, ending with King Pakubuwono II relocating the palace to Surakarta. The dance was choreographed by Agung Kusumo Widagdo.

“This colossal dance narrates a history to the young generation, in order for them to be aware of their city’s history. The municipality of Surakarta will regularly stage the dance in the next years to come,” said the mayor of Surakarta, FX Hadi Rudyatmo after the show. (mut)

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