T

wo rival factions of the Kasunanan Keraton palace in Surakarta, Central Java, held separate Raja Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi King coronation commemoration ceremonies on Thursday.

The traditional council camp held its ceremony at the Sasana Sewaka Hall, while the Pakubuwono XIII Hangabehi camp held its ceremony at the Sasana Narendra residence.

The celebrations were held separately as a result of a feud between the Surakarta Keraton siblings, which remain unresolved. The traditional council camp is headed by Gusti Raden Ayu (GRA) Moertiyah, or Gusti Moeng, while the other camp is led by PB XIII Hangabehi and Mahapatih Tedjowulan.

According to the traditional council camp leader, Surakarta PB XIII vice ruler Kanjeng Gusti Pangern Haryo Puger, the procession at the Surakarta Keraton was not a commemoration ceremony, but merely a performance of the Bedaya Ketawang sacred dance.

Puger said the coronation ceremony was canceled this year because PB XIII Haqngabehi had been suspended as Surakarta ruler by the traditional council after he failed to carry out his obligations for more than two years.

Separately, Kanjeng Pangeran Bambang Pradotonagoro of the Pakubuwono XIII camp questioned the coronation ceremony held by the traditional council. According to him, the ceremony was not an official palace ceremony because Pakubuwono XIII had not ordained such a ritual.