Jaunting in Jogja
YOGYAKARTA, commonly pronounced “Jogjakarta” and called Yogya or Jogja, is the soul of Java where Javanese artistic, traditions, culture and intellectual heritage are most apparent.
One of the sites which attracts many visitors is the Tamansari Water Castle. Located just southwest of the Kraton ( Sultan’s Palace), Tamansari once served as a splendid pleasure park of palaces, pools and waterways for the sultan. Built by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono I in 1758, the site is divided into functional places such as Umbul Binangun ( the pool), Istana Pulau Kenanga, Pulo Cemeti and Sumur Gumuling.
Yogyakarta has many art and cultural events which are worth watching. Some of those cultural events are:
Garebeg
Garebeg or Grebeg is a traditional ceremony as a symbol of the sultan’s generosity to his people.
Grebeg ceremonies are held three times a year; Grebeg Shawal to honour the fasting month, Grebeg Maulud to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, and Grebeg Besar to celebrate the Eid al- Adha.
During Grebeg, agricultural products are carried along the city streets past crowds of onlookers. The procession was accompanied by a salvo of gunshots from palace guards in traditional costume.
Pawai Budaya Jogja ( Jogja Cultural Carnival)
The carnival is held to celebrate the anniversary of City of Yogyakarta on Oct 7. A parade of traditional art and culture of Yogyakarta is the magnet of the carnival.
Pekan Budaya Tionghoa Yogyakarta ( Chinese Cultural Week)
Held since 2006, the annual festival is a time for the Chinese community in Yogyakarta to show their traditional culture such as Chinese music, Barongsai dragon and the Poo Tay Hie puppet show.
Concentrated in Kampoeng Ketandan, Yogyakarta’s Chinatown, this festival is also a celebration of the Chinese New Year.
For details, look out for its advertisement in the StarSpecial.