What’s inside your mind, when you hear the word of ‘Sekaten’? A local tradition? Yes. Something about Jogja? Yes. A ritual? Yes. A night market? No more.
Sekaten is an annual event held for several days to celebrate Hajad Dalem Garebeg Mulud or the birth of Moslem’s prophet Muhammad SAW by Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat in Yogyakarta. This year, Sekaten was held on 1 – 9 November 2019 at Keraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Palace). Keraton Yogyakarta had decided that there was no night market in Sekaten. It was an order from Sultan Hamengku Buwono X according to KPH Notonegoro to protect the condition of Alun-alun Utara (Yogyakarta’s north plaza) because the previous Sekaten Night Market brought damage to the grass. Another reason and probably the main reason to negate the night market was to restore the meaning and history of Sekaten, so that people could absorb the real value of it.
An interesting part of this year’s Sekaten is its exhibition. Named with Pameran Sekaten 2019 or Sekaten Exhibiton 2019, this exhibition contains lots of Keraton’s collections and arts especially Sultan Hamengku Buwono I’s legacies. This year, Sekaten focuses on the story of Pangeran Mangkubumi or Prince Mangkubumi also known as Sultan Hamengku Buwono I. The collections are prohibited to be photographed, but visitors will still have a documentation because the committee gives the exhibition books. The books contain the elaboration of the collections and arts, so the visitors do not need to copy the description on the paper, because they are already written on the books.
I’ll try to bring you back to see what’s inside Sekaten Exhibiton 2019:
Biographies and the history of Mataram Kingdom
Rooms are provided to exhibit some biographies containing the history of Mataram. The first history is about Mataram Kingdom entitled Babad Mataram which elaborates Kartasura and Surakarta Kingdom who are led by Sunan Paku Buwono II and Sunan Paku Buwono III. This book contains Geger Pacinan or Chinatown Tumult (1740-1743), Madura War (1743-1745), until the palace’s relocation to Surakarta. Prince Mangkubumi who was proclaimed as a free king is also written in this book.
The other book is Babad Ngayogyakarta which contains the history of Yogyakarta starting from the territorial division of Surakarta Kingdom which is known as the Treaty of Giyanti in 1755. The Treaty of Giyanti is the beginning of Mataram’s division into Surakarta and Yogyakarta Kingdom. This treaty was signed by Prince Mangkubumi and Nicholas Hartingh aimed to reduce the resistance of Prince Mangkubumi to VOC.
The Implications of Jatisari
The implications of Jatisari means the impact that is caused by the treaty of Giyanti which forms several aspects into two styles which are Surakarta style and Yogyakarta style. Some aspects caused are arts, architecture, objects, and literature. Some of the collections were displayed in Sekaten Exhibition 2019 which are batik motives, traditional dance styles, buildings like palace, guesthouse, and monuments.
Intimate Exhibition Atmosphere
Once visitors enter the exhibition, they are served about knowledge about Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat itself which is so intimate, and insightful. The atmosphere of Sekaten is totally different compared with the previous Sekaten event. By entering palace’s area, it was like the visitors are asked to explore the past. The area is solemn, and the signage for visitors flow is pretty clear.
Somehow this exhibition relieves the boundaries between the King and his people. Everything related to the palace are open in order to deliver values, and it is a really good thing. The royal family of Sultan Hamengku Buwono I has succeeded to keep the original tradition without covering it from millennial era by delivering the tradition with suitable media. Salute!
Source: Sekaten Exhibition 2019 Guidance Book