Indonesia: Hand in Hand on the Thousand Islands

Author: Li Jinlan
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Publishing Date: Not available
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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 for 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 better serve their families and communities. 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 Car Washing Ceremony" at the kraton (Javanese palace) in Yogyakarta is a very meaningful activity. The kraton is the palace of the Yogyakarta Sultan. This palace, with a history of nearly 250 years, is located in the center of Yogyakarta and was built in 1756 by the first king of the Yogyakarta Sultanate, Hamengku Buwono I (meaning "the universe is in my lap"), who designed and constructed it. After Indonesia's independence, in recognition of the Yogyakarta Sultan's contributions to 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 Car Washing 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 treasures such as the golden car, gamelan instruments, keris swords, and wayang kulit puppets are comfortably resting under the shade of 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 bored staying in the storage rooms, so now is a good time for them to breathe some fresh air. The gamelan instruments from the Mataram Sultanate, exquisite porcelain from China, 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 in the palace 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 heads and faces. The water in the pots and pans is taken home as precious gifts, or used for bathing the old and the 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 often held during the sacred month. Along the southern coast of Java, the cliffs are steep, and the winds are high and the waves are fierce. Sailors believe that this is the result of the South Sea Goddess stirring up the wind and waves, so they offer sacrifices to the goddess. The sacrifices are made with great care. In the Balong coastal area, five exquisite palanquins are offered, each equipped with many 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 cows and sheep sacrificed by local Muslims with the highest religious, bolts of cloth, shoulder cloths, finely crafted horn combs, and perfumes that emit a captivating fragrance.