Garebeg Maulud Ceremony in Yogyakarta Palace: Scramble for the Good Luck

Grebeg Maulud ceremony at Yogyakarta palace 

Grebeg Maulud Ceremony Yogyakarta is a traditional ceremony and a very well-known festival, which more than thousands of people participate.  

Grebeg Maulud is one of 3 Grebeg rituals held by Yogyakarta Palace, Indonesian. These Grebeg rituals are namely Grebeg Syawal, Grebeg Besar, and Grebeg Maulud itself. Grebeg rituals are held every year in Yogyakarta Palace, to commemorate 3 Islamic holy days. 

Grebeg Syawal is held on the 1st day of 10th month of the Islamic calendar (Syawal), at the end of Ramadhan, and to commemorate the completion of the Muslim fasting duties (Idul Fitri). Grebeg Besar is held on the 10th day of 12th month of the Islamic calendar (Dzulhijjah), and to commemorate the Moslem Day of Sacrifice (Idul Ad’ha). Grebeg Maulud is held on the 12th day of 3rd month of the Islamic calendar (Rabi-ul-Awal), and to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. 

A lot of people, inside and outside Yogyakarta Palace are waiting for  the Gunungan Procession enthusiastically.

The essence of Grebeg rituals is a sultan’s charity to his people in the form of Gunungan (in Javanese, it means mountain).  Gunungan, which is awaited by many people, is a pile made of sticky rice, sweets, various foods, crackers, or fruits and vegetables from harvest time. The Gunungan symbolizes the wealth and prosperity of sultanate and in this ceremony is provided for the people.

Gunungan Lanang (Lanang means a man), represents the masculinity of a knight or a king. It symbolizes the sharpness of mind to always have good intention, to restrain bad desires and misbehaviors 

In Grebeg Maulud ceremony there are usually 5 kinds of Gunungan, namely Gunungan Lanang, Gunungan Wadon, Gunungan Gepak, Gunungan Pawuhan, and Gunungan Dharat . Especially in Dal year (Islamic-Javanese Calender , every 8 years), there is an additional gunungan, called Gunungan Bromo or Gunungan Kutug. Each gunungan has different shapes, different meanings and contains different kinds of food.

Gunungan Wadon (Wadon means a woman), represents the femininity of a real woman and as a symbol the noble role of a real woman as a wife, a mother, and a member of the society. It means a real woman should have resoluteness, firmness, maturity and motherhood.

The Grebeg Maulud ceremony is opened with the parade of Yogyakarta Palace Guards. The sound of trumpets and drum beats signal the beginning of the parade. There are ten groups of Palace Guard in this parade, namely Wirobrojo, Daeng, Patangpuluh, Jogokaryo, Prawirotomo, Nyutro, Ketanggung, Mantrijero, Surokarso, and Bugis. Each of group is led by a commandant and has its typical marching style. They play a musical instrument during the parade and dressed in splendid and colorful uniform with traditional arms and armament.

Here are some of groups of Palace Guard:

Wirobrojo Soldiers

Wirobrojo Soldiers/Palace Guard is the first group in a march outside Yogyakarta Palace before Gunungan Procession. They are used to have front line duties during the war, because they were very brave and had the sharpness and sensibility of the senses.

Wirobrojo Palace Guard in Red Uniform

Jagakarya Soldiers

Jagakarya Soldiers are then in a march outside Yogyakarta Palace before Gunungan Procession. They’re used to have duties to guard and secure the execution of the government in the kingdom.

Jagakarya Yogyakarta Palace Guard

Patangpuluh Soldiers 

Patangpuluh means 40. During the war, they are known for its toughness and courage to face the enemy. This group of Palace Guards also are in a march outside Yogyakarta Palace before Gunungan Procession. 

Patangpuluh Yogyakarta Palace Guard

Ketanggung Soldiers

Ketanggung Soldiers (Palace Guards) are used to have duties to secure the Palace and to be Sultan’s Bodyguards. They are also in a march outside Yogyakarta Palace before Gunungan Procession. 

 

Ketanggung Soldiers Yogyakarta Palace Guards

Daeng Soldiers

Daeng Soldiers were formerly Makassar Palace Soldiers (a Palace in Sulawesi), but later the members of this group are not originally from Makasar anymore.

Daeng Soldiers were entering the Palace’s yard after marched outside Yogyakarta Palace.

Nyutra Palace Guards 

Nyutra Palace Guards were not warrior, but they were Sultan's bodyguards. One who wanted to be this Palace Guard, they had to have dancing skills.

 

Nyutra Palace Guards are entering the Yogyakarta Palace’s yard, after marched

Bugis Soldiers

Bugis soldiers initially came from Bugis, Makasar - Sulawesi then they deployed to Jawa. They are one of the groups of Palace Guard, who will escort Gunungans from Siti Hinggil to Masjid Gedhe Kauman as the final destination of the Gunungan procession.

Bugis Soldiers were waiting for the Gunungan procession to start.

Prawirotama Soldiers 

During war, Prawirotama Soldiers were extraordinary soldiers. They are used to win in every battle.

Prawirotama Soldiers are leaving the Palace yard and heading to Alun-alun Utara, in order to wait for Gunungans.

The procession of Gunungan

After the Palace Guards parade outside Yogyakarta Palace, the eight groups of Palace Guards come out from Siti Hinggil (Javanese: High Land, the main hall of the palace, where a Sultan is inaugurated). They then marched again through Pagelaran Hall to Alun-alun Utara (the North Square). In Alun-alun Utara, these Palace Guards stoped and waited for the Gunungan procession. Meanwhile, the other two groups of Palace Guard come out later to escort the Gunungans.

Gunungan Lanang, the first gunungan in the procession, comes out of Siti Hinggil (High Land)

The procession of Gunungan itself is started from Ponconiti Hall (the hall is located in North Kemandungan yard). Preceeded by Gunungan Lanang, Gunungan Wadon, Gunungan Gepak, Gunungan Pawuhan, Gunungan Dharat, and Gunungan Bromo or Kutug (if it is in Dal year), Gunungans are then brought through Siti Hinggil to Alun-alun Utara. Over there, the eight groups of Palace Guard have already waited for. 

Gunungan Putri/Wadon is carried by other group of Palace Guards in the Gunungan Procession.

Gunungan Darat, which is a symbol of Gratitude to God for all the natural resources, is carried by other group of Palace Guards.

Gunungan Gepak, which means a true boy or girl has to treat his/herself, all members of his/her family and his/her neighbors fairly, is in Palace Guards’ stretcher.

 .

In Alun-alun Utara, all Gunungans are escorted by all groups of Palace Guard and carried to inner courtyard of Masjid Gedhe Kauman (Palace Great Mosque), as a final destination of this procession. 

Sukarasa Soldiers come of Siti Hinggil in the Gunungan Procession. Like Bugis Soldiers, Sukarasa Soldiers also have a duty to escort gunungans to Masjid Gedhe Kauman.

After praying ceremony in Masjid Gedhe Kauman, gunungans are put on the ground. People, who have already awaited it in the square of mosque, snatch the food in gunungans away soon. They struggle to pick, fight over and rip apart any food provided in gunungans. They believe, the food or objects in gunungan are sacred and will bring them good luck, prosperity and wealth upon their households.

Moreover, the traditional Javanese farmers believe, that if they bury the objects in the rice fields, the objects will grant the fertility and protect their fields from locust, plaque, and any misfortunes that might befell them.