Sekaten

Sacred gamelan processions

The festivities begin after the evening Isya prayer on the fifth day of Mulud. Court officials and royal guards escort two venerable gamelan sets, Kyai Nogo Wilogo and Kyai Guntur Madu, from the palace to pavilions at the Great Mosque. In Yogyakarta, the procession is led by the Sultan or his representative, while in Surakarta the Sunan and city leaders preside. For seven straight days, musicians play these sacred instruments simultaneously until the eleventh day, when the ensembles are carried back inside palace walls.

Preparation of the offerings

Two days prior to the final festival day, the court conducts the Tumplak Wajik ritual in the palace grounds at four in the afternoon. This ceremony marks the construction of massive ceremonial structures known as gunungan. Attendants perform rhythmic drumming with wooden slit drums and rice mortars alongside traditional songs such as Lompong Keli, Tundhung Setan, and Owal awil. Central to these offerings is wajik, a classic diamond-shaped sweet confection made from sticky rice sweetened with palm sugar.

The climactic Grebeg Muludan

The festival culminates on the twelfth day of the month with Grebeg Muludan. Royal guard regiments in historic companies, alongside troops from the Duchy of Pakualaman, escort giant mountain-shaped offerings laden with sticky rice, vegetables, fruits, crackers, and sweets from the palace through ceremonial halls to the Grand Mosque. Following communal prayers, gathered crowds harvest and tear apart the gunungan. People believe these sanctified food items bring prosperity to their homes and protect agricultural fields from pests and blight.

How Sekaten is kept

Celebrations run from the fifth through twelfth of Mulud. On opening night, royal attendants carry twin sacred gamelan sets to the grand mosque, where they are played daily. Meanwhile, a night market gathers visitors in the northern public square. Two days before the climax, palace staff beat rice mortars and sing folk tunes during the Tumplak Wajik rite to prepare giant food offerings. On the final morning, uniformed royal guard brigades escort the food mounds from the palace to the mosque, after which waiting crowds eagerly scramble for portions to bring home for blessing.

When and where

Sekaten takes place every year from the fifth to the twelfth day of Mulud in the Javanese calendar, which matches the Islamic month of Rabi' al-awwal. The final day coincides with the observance of Mawlid.

The festival is celebrated simultaneously across two royal court cities in Central Java. Festivities center on the northern public squares, grand palaces, and great mosques of Yogyakarta and Surakarta.

What Sekaten means

Originally introduced to encourage the spread of Islam, Sekaten blends royal heritage with religious observance. Its name derives from the Arabic syahadatain, the Islamic declaration of faith. The gunungan offerings represent the wealth and abundance of the Mataram Sultanate. Locals regard pieces of these food mounds as potent talismans that carry household prosperity, guard farm fields against pests and misfortune, and ensure agricultural fertility.

On the table

• wajik
• sticky rice
• sweets
• crackers
• fruits
• vegetables

Days Sekaten is marked

Questions people ask about Sekaten

See also

ThaipusamA Tamil Hindu festival honoring Murugan through devotional burdens and pilgrimageMawlidAn annual festival marking the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, marked by poetry, processions and feasts.Mid-Autumn FestivalAn annual harvest festival celebrating family reunions, full moons and mooncakes

Good reading and sources

• Sekaten on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.