SEKATEN, Mixture of Islamic and Javanese Tradition

SEKATEN

Sekaten, the traditional ceremony of Javanese which started by Sultan Hamengkubuwono I (the king of Yogyakarta) simply has turned into one of many tourist attractions that can be found when you visit Java Island. At the first time, this ceremony was held (only) to visit people of Yogyakarta to know more about Islam. The name of ceremony "Sekaten" it self came from "Syahadatain/Syahadat" which is a sacred ceremony for a person to admit that there is only one god (Allah S.W.T) and the prophet Muhammad SAW is the last messenger of God (who brought Islam as a guidance of life).
Due to the difficultness for the Javanese to pronounce Syahadatain, then it is simplified to Sekaten. Syahadat it self is one of five Islam principles (it is the basic one) and once a person committed in Syahadatain plus he/she believes thatIslam is their way of life the he/she is officially became a moslem. Before Islam came to Java exactly after the area of Majapahit Kingdom most of Javanese holds their ancient believes and when Demak Kingdom rules in Java(continued with another Islamic Kingdom, the Mataram Kingdom, mother of Yogyakarta and Solo) Islamic culture started to arise across Java Island.
Annually, this traditional ceremony will be held at North City Yard (Alun Alun Utara) of Yogyakarta and the event started with a long march at night .The Sultan Palace of Yogyakarta will be starting point (Pendopo Ponconiti) and next the Sultan Palace soldiers will take a march with two sets of Gamelan named Kyai Nogowilogo and Kyai Gunturmadu. This march will end up at the Great Mosque of Yogyakarta (Masjid Agung Yogyakarta). When the march stopped at the Great Mosque of Yogyakarta, Kyai Nogowilogo will be placed at the North area of the mosque while another gamelan set, Kyai Gunturmadu will be placed at South area of the mosque. These two gamelan sets will be played for seven days without any break to give a sign that Sekaten Ceremony has started. At the end of Sekaten Ceremony, Kyai Nogowilogo and Kyai Gunturmadu will be taken back and stored at the Sultan Palace.