Monday, January 21, 2013

Gamelan Sekaten - Yogyakarta

Sekaten (originated from Arabic word: Syahadatain) is a week long Javanese traditional ceremony, festival, fair and pasar malam (night market) commemoratingMawlid (the birthday of prophet Muhammad), celebrated annually started on 5th day through the 12th day of (Javanese Calendar) Mulud month (correspond to Rabi' al-awwal in Islamic Calendar). The festivities usually took place in northern alun-alun (square) in Yogyakarta, and simultaneously also celebrated in northern alun-alun of Surakarta. This ceremony originally were initiated by Sultan Hamengkubuwana I, the founder of Yogyakarta Sultanate to promote the Islamic faith.
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