As a city of culture, the city of Solo still maintains various traditional ceremonies passed down from generation to generation. The community considers implementing this tradition to give thanks for all the gifts that God has given. On the other hand, this is done to preserve the local culture that has existed for a long time. If you are lucky, you will find various traditional ceremonies held at certain moments while traveling to Solo. To find out what traditional ceremonies are still often held in Solo, see the information below:
- Kirab Malam 1 Sura
Kirab Malam 1 Sura is a traditional ceremony to commemorate the start of the Islamic new year. This ceremony had existed since the leadership of Sultan Agung when he ruled the Islamic Mataram Kingdom in the past. The implementation of this ceremony is unique because it consists of several rituals such as tapa mute, tirakatan, kungkum, cultural carnival, and washing heirlooms. This traditional ceremony is increasingly attracting tourists because of the buffalo in the implementation of the ritual. Animals that are considered sacred by residents are also often called Kebo Bule.
- Sekaten
Similar to Yogyakarta, the city of Solo also holds a Sekaten ceremony every year. Usually, this is done to welcome the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. The interesting thing about this ceremony is that there is a night market activity held for weeks. This ceremony is one of the agendas of the Solo Palace, which is marked by the beating of the gamelan Kiai Guntur Madu and Kyai Guntur Sari. Another tradition that accompanies the Sekaten ceremony is nginang which means chewing betel leaves and eating salted eggs. It said that the ceremony was spearheaded by Raden Patah, who built the Demak Mosque in 1477.
- Bedhaya Ketawang Dance
The last traditional ceremony that still exists in the city of Solo is the Bedhaya Ketawang Dance. Similar to Sekaten, this ceremony is also held by the Solo Palace. You can only watch this dance once a year, to be exact, at the celebration of the ascension to the throne. This dance is considered sacred and has a story behind it. This dance is performed by nine women who dress like brides. Amazingly, the dance lasted for 2 hours. In essence, the dance tells the story of the romance between Kanjeng Ratu Kencana Hadisari or the Queen of the South Coast with Panembahan Senopati.
- Sadranan
In the 15th century, Sadranan was a ceremony practiced by Hindus and Buddhists to worship spirits. However, after the entry of Islam into Indonesia, there was a shift to honor the spirit into a ceremony of supplication to Allah. Wali Songo did this. The request in question is the forgiveness of the ancestors’ sins, which is now carried out near Ramadan or in the month of Shaban.
- Grebeg Sudiro
Some of the traditional ceremonies still carried out by the Solo community today are also heavily influenced by outside cultures. One of them is Grebeg Sudiro which is a combination of Javanese and Chinese culture. The Grebeg Sudiro tradition was originally named Buk Teko, which was intended to celebrate the Chinese New Year. But in 2007 it changed to Grebeg Sudiro. The traditional ceremony is still maintained to show solidarity between tribes, races, and religions.
Before you plan a trip to Solo, be sure to read more about Solo and Indonesia by visiting Wonderful Indonesia.