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Surakarta Palace to stage full version of 'bedaya ketawang’ dance
The sacred dance will be presented for two hours instead of 30 minutes or an hour.
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Sacred dance: 'Bedaya Ketawang' is usually staged for 30 minutes or an hour during the coronation anniversary of Paku Buwono XIII at Surakarta Palace in Central Java. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
Sacred dance bedaya ketawang is commonly performed in a short version with a duration of 30 minutes to an hour.
However, on April 1, bedaya ketawang will be presented in full for two hours as part of the tingalan jumenengan (coronation anniversary) of Paku Buwono XIII at Surakarta Palace in Central Java.
“Nine dancers have regularly practiced for a week, except on Friday night,” said palace official Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Haryo (KGPH) Dipokusumo, adding that the dancers have always been accompanied by abdi dalem (royal servants), especially when they had to perform a prayer procession for a successful performance.
Unlike previous years, this year's tingalan jumenengan will feature a kirab budaya (cultural parade) that will begin at the palace at 2 p.m. People will have the chance to see Paku Buwono XIII during the parade as the king and his queen will join the parade in a horse-drawn carriage, while relatives and the king’s siblings will follow suit.
Read also: King's coronation anniversary celebrated with sacred dance in Surakarta
“The palace only has one horse-drawn carriage, Kyai Garuda Kencana. It was built during the era of Paku Buwono VII in 1836, though it was first used by Paku Buwono XI,” said KGPH Dipokusumo. “We also allow other parties, such as the Surakarta government, to use the horse-drawn carriage for cultural events in the city.”
Meanwhile, Kanjeng Adipati Sosronegoro, chief committee of the event, said around 4,000 people will participate in the parade as it also involved people from Yogyakarta, Semarang in Central Java, Madiun city in East Java and Ponorogo regency in East Java. “Paku Buwono XIII will perform several cultural processions before the parade, including tingalan jumenengan,” Sosronegoro said. “We’d like to revive our tradition.”
Surakarta Cultural Agency head Kinkin Sultanul Hakim said the local government supported the tradition as tingalan jumenengan had attracted a number of visitors. “A lot of people from outside Surakarta come to this city to watch the bedaya ketawang performance,” said Kinkin. (wir/mut)
