Jostling for divine blessing at Ganjuran Temple

By Tarko Sudiarno

YOGYAKARTA (JP): "Ladies and gentlemen, please do not touch the gunungan (giant cones of food and flowers) until the mass is over," the announcement came from the loudspeakers.

But the announcement went unheeded and thousands of people jostled their way to grab a portion of the food cone at a ceremony at the Temple of Jesus' Sacred Heart at the back of Ganjuran Catholic Church, Bantul, just south of Yogyakarta.

People of all ages fought their way for every little bit of the four gunungan located at the temple's altar. There were not only Javanese present but also Chinese Indonesians from other cities.

The four gunungan were finished in just five minutes. People snatched not only the food, but anything that was part of the cones.

"I am happy I got a stalk of rice," said a woman from Jakarta, while wiping sweat from her face. "I will display it at my shop."

Like the rest of the congregation, she believes everything in the cones will bring luck, such as good fortune, good health and happiness, because they had received God's blessings.

"I will make sambal with this chili so that hopefully it will heal all my ailments," said Theresia from Surabaya, who was holding a rather forlorn-looking chili.

All this was part of the annual sacrament procession at the temple, held this year on Sunday, June 24. The mass, conducted according to Javanese tradition, takes place every year on the last Sunday of June.

The scramble for part of the gunungan is reminiscent of the Garebeg court ceremony at Yogyakarta Palace. The gunungan are two gunungan wadon (female cones) and two gunungan lanang (male cones).

In Javanese cosmology, gunungan symbolizes prosperity and peacefulness. While "male" and "female" gunungan represent fertility, man-woman relations and humankind-God relations. So people believe that the gunungan are not mere offerings but symbols of God's blessing for humankind.

The ceremony began with a mass, which is full of Javanese cultural symbols; the priest wore a surjan shirt instead of the usual robe; it was accompanied by live gamelan music; the songs and prayers are in the Javanese language.

The rite ended with congregation members jostling for part of the gunungan.

The 20-meter tall temple was built 77 years ago. Inside the stone temple is a statue of Jesus Christ dressed like a Javanese king.

The temple is also popular among Javanese mystic believers. On the Tuesday evening Kliwon and Friday Kliwon in the Javanese calendar, the place is crowded with people seeking luck and good fortune through prayers.