Grebeg Ceremony

Grebeg ceremony is held by the Sultanate of Yogyakarta to celebrate Islamic holidays such as Idul Adha, Prophet Muhammad birthday, and the month of Syawal. The traditional event is done as a form of sacrifice of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X to the family and his people. Also, the ceremony is held as a means of meeting between the people and leaders of Yogyakarta. The Islamic important celebrations are always celebrated as the Sultanate of Yogyakarta not only embraces the traditional Javanese customs, but also adopted Islamic teachings. The ceremony also attracted foreign tourists. Some of them were very interested even though did not understand the purpose of the ceremony. This particular Grebeg was for the Idul Adha celebration. 

There was a convoy of five mountains that were attached with harvests to be presented to the people. Accompaniment of these mountains carried by hundreds of soldiers from the palace "Siti Hinggil" to the Great Mosque Kauman through the north square. After that, the mountains were given a prayer by the palace elder before they became a bone of contention by the citizens who had been waiting since morning at the palace. 

There were piles of food being arranged in the shape of a mountain, the Grebeg, attached on giant cones, Gunungan, to be distributed to the people. Each of the Grebeg has a name: Kakung, Putri, Gepak, Pawuhan, and Darat.

This event symbolizes the generosity of the Sultan (Sultan Hamengkubuwono X). There were thousands of people coming from surrounding Yogyakarta area and hoping to get even just a little bit of the food because they believed that it would be a blessing. 

The convoy is lead by several groups of palace troops. In present days, the Sultanate no longer has military power, and these troops exist as a symbolism during big ceremonies like this.

Each group has its own name and function:

  

Wirobrojo Soldiers

This group of soldiers walk at the very front of the march, followed by other kinds of soldier groups. Their name means brave and sharp, thus they are positioned in the front. During the occupational era under Dutch, they used to stand also at the very front and they were responsible to defend the west fort of the Sultanate. There is a village name after them, located also on the west side of the Sultanate, Kampung Wirobrejan.

Wirobrojo soldiers

Dhaheng soldiers

Ketanggung Soldiers

Ketanggung soldiers are responsible to guard the inside of the Sultanate and escort the Sultan when he is outside of the Sultanate. Their name means that they bear a very heavy responsibility. They also have a village named after them, Ketanggungan village.

A child of an Abdi Dalem, the Sultan's servant