5. Tourist Attraction

Tourist Attraction

(traditional events and dances)

Traditional attractions are generally held in certain regions every year. This program is interesting for tourists because it is not only related to religion or belief but also inherited to the younger generation from time to time.

This program are traditionally held based on Javanese or Arabic calendar every year so that the dates always change. The following are some famous traditional attraction in Central Java:

A. Traditional Events

1. Waicak

Waicak ceremony is held at Borobudur temple and Mendut temple in Magelang regency. This is a religious ceremony held every year by Buddhist follower to celebrate the birthday and death of Budha Gautama. The Buddhist follower from other countries take part in this religious ceremony. The climax of this ceremony is when the full moon comes up and people pray together. It usually takes place in May.

2. Sekaten

Sekaten ceremony is held by Kasunanan and Mangkunegaran Kingdoms in Surakarta city. This traditional ceremony is held for one week and ended with another ceremony called Grebeg Mulud.

The main purpose of this ceremony is to commemorate the birth of prophet Muhammad.

This ceremony is characterized with the “Gamelan” (Javanese Music) performance in which the sacred gamelan sets called “Kyai Guntur” and “Guntur Madu” are played. An interesting procession in which “Gunungan” (a kind of big rice tart and its dishes) is distributed to visitor is held and believed to have supernatural power that they can get grace, safety, and happiness. It takes place in Maulud (Moslem calendar).

3. Kirab Pusaka

Kirab Pusaka is a procession in which sacred weapons of the kingdom and garmenta are carried around the city. The purpose of this procession is for security sake and happiness. It takes place on the Asyura 1^st, new year of the Javanese calendar.

4. Dug Der

Dug Der is a traditional event held in Semarang to celebrate the coming of the holy Ramadhan. Various children toys and meals are served or sold. The unique event is the selling of a specific toy on which an egg is put, and there fore it is called “Warak Ngendog”.

5. Yakowiyu

Yakowiyu is a very interesting ceremony usually held at Jatinom village, about 12 Km north of Klaten region. This ceremony is intended to commemorate a Moslem figure, “Kyai Ageng Gribig” who spread Islam religion. At the climax of the ceremony “apem” (round cakes made of flour) are distributed to the audience who have been waiting for it. They think that if they get the “apem” good fortune will be with them. It takes place in Safar (Moslem calendar).

6. Grebeg Besar

The most interesting thing in this ceremony is the procession of guard platoon that guard the holy oil used to wash the heritance of “Sunan Kalijaga” called “Keris Kyai Crubuk” and “Kotang Antakusuma”. It takes place at Idul Adha (Moslem calendar).

7. Pilgrimage to Sendang Sono

May is considered a holy month to honor Virgin Maria, mother of Jesus Christ. During this month, thousands of the Roman Catholic community come from all over Indonesia and even from abroad to make their pilgrimage to Semdang Sono. Starting from Banjaroya Kalurahan (village) office on the Sentolo-Muntilan roadside, the pilgrimage make their way up hill along a path for about 3.5 Km to the Promasan church. The stretch to the Sendang Sono complex is another 1.5 Km. Those who prefer to go by car go straight to the Sendang Sono complex via a crossroad at the Bendo village, Kali-bawang, Kuloin Progo regency.

B. Classical/Traditional (Folk) Dances

1. Name of dance : Gambyong

Location : Not at particular place

Dancers : One team at least four persons (girls)

Instruments : Gamelan orchestra, either “Slendro” or “Pelog” playing “Pangkur” or "Pareanom"

Length of show : a half or an hour

Costume : Kain Batik (the skirt), kemben, selendang (scarf), cunduk mentul (swinging hairpin) and gelung malang (specific hairdo)

2. Name of dance : Serimpi

Location : Not at particular place

Dancers : four dancers (girls)

Instruments : Gamelan orchestra

Length of show : about 15 minutes

Costume : Javanese Kain Batik (the skirt), rompi (vest), jamang (headpiece decorated eith peacock feathers)

3. Name of dance : Bedhaya

Location : Kasunanan palace, Solo

Dancers : 9 dancers (girls), also called Bedhayas.

Instruments : Gamelan music

Length of show : 90 minutes

Costume : Dressed like brides with their hair piled up in a bun on top of their heads. They wear beautiful intricate hair-coils of gold and precious stones and jasmine buds.

4. Name of dance : Bambangan/Kusumo Yudo/ Perang Kembang

Location : Not at particular place

Dancers : 2 persons

Instruments : Gamelan orchestra

Length of show : 15 minutes (more or less)

Costume : Satria (the knight) Javanese clothing, trousers. The knight made up in special charm symbolizing beauty and wisdom. Buto Cakil (the demon) Javanese clothing, trousers, wearing a mask dominate with red and black colors as symbol of wickedness.

5. Name of dance : Jaran Kepang

Location : Temanggung, Magelang, Blora, Cilacap, Sukoharjo, Surakarta

Dancers : 8 people (performers), 1 penthul and 1 tembem (the clowns)

Instruments : Gamelan (bende, kendang, kempul, angklung, keyek, kenong)

Length of show : 1-11/2 hours

Costume : like wayang orang

6. Name of dance : Barongan

Location : Blora, Pemalang, Kudus, Purwodadi (regionces)

Dancers : 9 persons

Instruments : Gamelan (bende, kendang, kempul, angklung, keyek, kenong)

Length of show : 1-11/2 hours

Costume : Masks, Sampur, sabuk timang (special belt)

7. Name of dance : Reog

Location : Boyolali, Wonogiri (regionces). Originated from Ponorogo (East Java)

Dancers : 25 persons including the gamelan players

Instruments : Gamelan (bende, kendang, kempul, angklung, keyek, kenong)

Length of show : 1-11/2 hours

Costume : Tiger Masks, 1 penthul and 1 tembem (the clowns)

8. Name of dance : Tayub

Location : Sukoharjo regency

Dancers : 1 female dancer

Instruments : Gamelan music

Costume : Javanese traditional

9. Name of performance : Laesan

Location : Juwono, Pati regency

Dancers : 7 persons

Costume : Javanese traditional

Length of show : 2 to 3 hours

10. Name of dance : Sintren

Location : Pekalongan and vicinity

Dancers : 1 persons also called “sintren”, 1 to 2 persons as the clowns

Vocalists : 10 persons or more (female)

Instruments : Gamelan music

Length of show : 4 to 5 hours

Costume : Javanese traditional, Javanese clothing

11. Name of dance : Prajuritan

Location : Semarang regency

Dancers : 20 or 50 persons (depending of the need)

Instruments : All percussion (Gamelan music and drums big and small)

Length of show : 1 to 2 hours or depending of the need

Costume : Javanese warriors.

12. Name of dance : Lengger

Location : Wonosobo regency

Dancers : 2 persons female; one of them dressed up like a woman

Instruments : some Gamelan

Costume : like wayang dancer

13. Name of dance : Ndolalak

Location : Purworejo regency

Dancers : 12 persons or more (a mass dance)

Instruments : All percussion (kenthongan, drums big and small)

Length of show : 20 to 30 minute

Costume : Dressed up like Dutch warriors with some local modification

14. Pencak Silat

Centuries old the Indonesian people art of self defense called “Silat” is repository of primodial cultural consciousness and is a living proof of the spirit of Indonesian syncretism.

Ok…, I await your comment, thank’s