Indonesia - Hand in Hand with the Thousand Islands

Author: Li Jinlan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features:
January 1st of the Islamic lunar calendar is the New Year of Islam. In the Javanese calendar, January is called the "Suro" month, and "Suro" month is a sacred month in the hearts of Indonesians, especially Javanese Muslims. During this sacred month, people reflect on their past journey, review their successes and failures, in order to better cultivate their minds and bodies, purify their souls, enrich their spirits, and serve their families and communities better. At this time, what needs to be forgotten should be forgotten, what needs to be forgiven should be forgiven, and what needs to be repaid should be repaid. In short, the sacred month is sacred; one must have a clear conscience, be selfless, and be wholehearted. During the sacred month, Muslims pray devoutly every day and participate in various celebrations and commemorative activities. For example, attending the "Golden Palanquin Ceremony" at the kraton (Javanese palace) in Yogyakarta is a very meaningful activity. The kraton is the palace of the Sultan of Yogyakarta. This palace, with a history of nearly 250 years, is located in the center of Yogyakarta and was built in 1756 by the first Sultan of the Yogyakarta Sultanate, Hamengku Buwono I (meaning "the universe is in my lap"), who designed and constructed it. After Indonesia's independence, recognizing the contributions of the Yogyakarta Sultan in the anti-Dutch war, the decision was made not to abolish the Yogyakarta Kingdom but to transform it into the Special Region of Yogyakarta, retaining certain privileges and adopting a hereditary monarchy. The original royal family continues to live in the palace, and the palace servants still dress in traditional attire. The Golden Palanquin Ceremony is held on a Tuesday or Friday in January. On this day, the kraton is filled with joy and harmony, and the ceremony is presided over by respected court officials. The precious golden palanquins, gamelan instruments, keris swords, and wayang kulit puppets are comfortably resting under umbrellas on the shoulders of women in fine attire, and they are carefully carried one by one into the courtyard. These treasures have grown a bit weary in the storage rooms and are now ready to breathe fresh air. The gamelan instruments from the Mataram Kingdom, exquisite Chinese porcelain, and royal carriages adorned with British crowns are cleaned and polished, shining even brighter. People believe that these sacred objects are imbued with the spirit and wisdom of the king. Therefore, when the ceremony ends with prayers, the people who attend the ceremony carry pots and pans to collect the water that has been sanctified by the objects. Some are eager to use this water to wash their hair and faces. The water in the pots and pans is taken home as precious gifts, or used for bathing the old and young in the family, or to water fruit trees, or to sprinkle flower gardens, or to irrigate rice fields, regardless of the amount. People believe that as long as they are touched by the sacredness, they will be healthy, free from disasters, and harvest bountifully, and they will receive spiritual guidance from the king's spirit in heaven.
On the island of Java, sea sacrifices are held during the sacred month in many places. The southern coast of Java is characterized by towering cliffs and high winds and waves. Sailors believe that the South Sea Goddess is stirring up the winds and waves, so they offer sacrifices to the goddess. The sacrifices are made with great care. In the Banyuwangi coastal area, five exquisite palanquins are offered, each equipped with various items needed for the goddess's daily life. In the district of Cilacap, people mainly offer traditional Javanese "sacrificial houses," which contain 120 types of gifts: the heads of cattle and sheep sacrificed by the most devout Muslim locals, bolts of cloth, shoulder cloths, intricately crafted horn combs, and perfumes that emit a captivating fragrance.