Grebeg Besar Tradition of 2026 Idul Adha at Keraton Surakarta: Meaning and Philosophy

Thousands of locals and tourists filled the courtyard of Surakarta’s Grand Mosque on Thursday, 28 May 2026, enthusiastically participating in the Grebeg Besar tradition to celebrate Idul Adha 1447 Hijriyah. The event’s climax was marked by the ‘ngalap berkah’ procession, where crowds scrambled for the ‘gunungan’ (mountains of agricultural produce), which vanished within ten minutes.

Unlike previous years, this year’s Grebeg Besar granted greater public access. Typically, the ‘gunungan jaler’ (male-oriented) would be taken back into the palace for palace staff to compete after prayers. However, in 2026, the Keraton decided to allow the entire gunungan to be contested by the public in the mosque courtyard.

KP Eddy Wirabhumi from the Keraton Surakarta Legal Affairs Agency explained the decision was made due to extraordinary public and tourist interest. ‘We had to concede. The enthusiasm was immense, with tourists eager to learn about royal tradition. It’s crucial to introduce, preserve, and establish Solo as a centre of Javanese culture,’ he said.

Before the competition, two main gunungan were paraded from the Keraton Surakarta to the Grand Mosque, escorted by hundreds of soldiers and palace servants. This procession was a major draw for tourists eager to witness the grandeur of this centuries-old tradition.

The Grebeg Besar tradition is not merely a physical competition for food but carries deep philosophical meaning as a royal expression of gratitude for the completion of the Arafah and Idul Adha rituals. The significance of the paraded elements is as follows:

For the public, obtaining a portion of the gunungan is believed to bring blessings. Martono, a resident of Gemblegan, stated he never misses the ritual. ‘As a Javanese subject, I always seek blessings. Today, I received carrots and chillies, which filled me with joy, as if called by the heart,’ he said.

Agus Setyawan, a tourist from Madiun, similarly attended with his family to provide cultural experiences for his children. Despite the crowd, he was satisfied to receive sugarcane and long beans as mementos of Solo’s Idul Adha celebration.

What is the main purpose of Grebeg Besar?

To express the King of Keraton Surakarta’s gratitude to God and to distribute charity to the people.

What is the difference between gunungan jaler and estri?

Gunungan jaler contains raw agricultural produce (symbolising livelihood), while gunungan estri contains processed or ready-to-eat food (symbolising household management).

When is Grebeg Besar held?

The tradition is held annually on the day of Idul Adha (10 Dzulhijjah).