Devotion to motherland

Tue, July 31, 2018 / 04:39 pm

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A man dressed in Javanese traditional costume holds his horse. JP/Boy T. Harjanto
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Four horse riders – all dressed in traditional Javanese costumes – are ready to pave the way for the Labuhan Pisungsung Jaladri parade. JP/Boy T. Harjanto
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The Dewi Sri statue, which villagers believe is the goddess of rice, is also floated to the sea. JP/Boy T. Harjanto
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A statue of Garuda (the king of birds, which is also the vehicle mount of the Hindu god Vishnu) is also floated to the sea. JP/Boy T. Harjanto
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People join the parade by carrying offerings. JP/Boy T. Harjanto
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People pray on the beach before proceeding with the ceremony. JP/Boy T. Harjanto
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The elders walk into the water as a sign that the ceremony is about to begin. JP/Boy T. Harjanto
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A man rides his horse along the beach. JP/Boy T. Harjanto
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Villagers throw their offerings into the sea. JP/Boy T. Harjanto
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Female villagers also toss flower petals into the sea. JP/Boy T. Harjanto

Boy T Harjanto

Several horse riders wearing traditional Javanese costumes were seen along Parangtritis Beach in Bantul regency, Yogyakarta. These riders were tasked with paving the way for the Labuhan Pisungsung Jaladri parade from Parangtritis Beach to nearby Parangkusumo Beach.

Pisungsung Jaladri means being devoted to the motherland, and it is conducted by floating offerings out to sea. It is also a way to express gratitude to God for all the blessings within the year.

Villagers grab some of the offerings being floated out to sea, believing they would be blessed and spared from bad deeds. [yan]