Yogyakarta Labuhan ritual honors an ancient queen<\/p>\n
By Tarko Sudiarno<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): The waves, four times the height of an adult
\nman, came crashing down on the hundreds of people gathered on
\nParangkusumo beach, Bantul, Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Their screams rang out as they took part in the Labuhan Sura
\nceremony on the beach south of Central Java.<\/p>\n
"Watch out, don't go too far from the shore," a member of the
\nCoast SAR team shouted repeatedly through a megaphone.<\/p>\n
But the people, caught up in the excitement, ignored his
\nwarnings.<\/p>\n
Some of them hit each other in the frenzy as they struggled to
\nseize the offerings of food, batik clothes and flowers which had
\nbeen flung into the sea by ceremony officials.<\/p>\n
"I've had a tough day, I cut my hand when I was hit by an
\nancak (slab of bamboo bearing the offerings), but I didn't get
\nanything," Suyanto from Sukoharjo, Central Java, said.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Atmo from Bantul, Yogyakarta, had better luck.<\/p>\n
The elderly woman knew there was no point in her trying to
\nstruggle with younger people, so she waited on the shore. But the
\nwaves washed down to her patch on the sand, drenching her batik
\ndress.<\/p>\n
Then, in what she called a "flash of luck", three flower
\nofferings appeared from the foam and came to rest in her lap.<\/p>\n
"It came to me without a single effort from me," Mrs. Atmo
\nsaid with a smile of happiness.<\/p>\n
This ceremony was initiated by Hondodento Institute, a
\ncultural and heritage organization, and participated in by tens
\nof thousands of people from various cities in Java, Sumatra,
\nKalimantan and Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
The ceremony involves the presentation of labuhan (offerings)
\nin a tradition believed to date back to Panembahan Senopati, the
\nfounder of the Mataram kingdom. They say the king of Mataram, who
\nloved to practice this spiritual rite, established a special
\nrelationship with the ruler of the Indian Ocean.<\/p>\n
Many Central Javanese continue to believe that a second royal
\nkingdom, in addition to Yogyakarta's monarchy, dwells in the
\nocean, which is known in the country as the Indonesian Ocean,
\nwith Kanjeng Gusti Ratu Kidul, the Queen of the South Sea.<\/p>\n
The belief is that the queen regards all the descendants of
\nthe founder as her husband. As a token of gratitude to her and
\nGod, the kings of Mataram conducted the Labuhan ceremony.<\/p>\n
"But besides that, we also have the intention, with this
\nceremony, of begging Almighty God to protect the state and people
\nof Indonesia so that they are safe and prosperous," said the
\nchairman of the organizing committee, Sunarko.<\/p>\n
Many people also believe that participating in the ceremony
\nwill bring good fortune if they can snatch some of the offerings.
\nBut others try to take advantage of the occasion by grabbing the
\ngifts, and then selling them to other people.<\/p>\n
Warm reception<\/p>\n
Hondodento Institute has conducted 27 of the ceremonies, but
\nthe one in early April was given an especially warm reception.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people crowded Parangkusumo beach from the night
\nbefore, and a long line of four-wheeled vehicles queued to enter
\nthe area. Many people were drawn to the ceremony because of a
\nrumor that a special figure would attend.<\/p>\n
The organizing committee also acknowledged they had received
\ninformation from shamans that from the thousands of visitors,
\nthere would emerge a leader capable of leading this country to
\nprosperity. The rumor was that he would associate with the
\nvisitors in an extremely low profile way.<\/p>\n
"But it all depends on their respective beliefs," said
\nSunarko, who is also the head of the institute.<\/p>\n
A day before the ceremony, the various offerings -- including
\nrice dishes and snacks -- were prepared. The following day, the
\npeople gathered on the beach, at the supposed "reception hall" of
\nthe kingdom, and a procession two kilometers long began. At the
\nhelm were two people on horses, with girls in traditional kebaya
\nblouses walking directly behind them.<\/p>\n
When they arrived at Parang Kusumo beach for the actual
\nceremony, all participants sat cross-legged facing the ocean. Led
\nby the Parang Kusumo caretaker in this area, the ceremony began
\nwith a announcement to Kanjeng Gusti Ratu Kidul, that the labuhan
\nwas ready to be offered.<\/p>\n
One by one the carriers of the offerings walked slowly away
\nfrom the shore into the coming waves. Hundreds of people,
\nignoring any concerns for their personal safety, followed the
\ncarriers into the sea, farther and deeper.<\/p>\n
After the offerings, a prayer was said to God and to the
\nqueen, who once again had received her offerings from the
\nfaithful who come year after year to pay homage.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yogyakarta-labuhan-ritual-honors-an-ancient-queen-1447893297",
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