'Jumenengan': A colorful palace ritual

'Jumenengan': A colorful palace ritual

Text and photos By Kosasih Derajat

SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): At the turn of this century, the
role of Java's mighty and powerful kingdom of Mataram has been
vanishing. Yet its charismatic influence over Javanese society
still flourishes.

Every royal occasion, no matter how symbolical, is still
worth reviewing and is still capable of drawing keen attention,
both from the Javanese public as well as outsiders.

For the Surakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate, which came into being
after the powerful Mataram kingdom was separated into two
Sultanates -- the Surakarta and Ngayogyakarta -- in l755, all the
lavish and sacred ceremonies are currently aimed at preserving
the rich Javanese culture.

One of the Sultanate's most significant ceremony is Jumenengan
(coronation anniversary).

It is interesting to view the annual Jumenengan of the present
Sinuwun (Sultan) Pakubuwono XII, held early this month by the
Surakarta Hadiningrat Court.

The ceremony, which took place on Jan.4, commemorated the 51st
Jumenengan of Pakubuwono XII as well as his 72nd birthday,
according to the Javanese lunar calendar.

There were various rituals marking this important event. The
most interesting was when the Sinuwun knighted a number of people
who deserve noble status. The people usually come from the Royal
court's inner circle. But this year the Sinuwun practiced a
cross-cultural endeavor as he gave noble status to an 'outsider.'

Along with 82 royal members, Pakubuwuno XII presented the
honorable noble title Kanjeng Raden Haryo to Haji Muchtar Byna
Datuk Bagindo Majolelo, the newly-elected traditional and
spiritual supreme chief of the Koto Clan of Minangkabau, West
Sumatra's matrilineal ethnic community.

Why Datuk Bagindo?

"A Royal Court is the center of Javanese culture. It is a
valuable asset that should be preserved. For the Minangkabau
people, tradition as well as culture play an important part in
their lives. By respecting and learning each other's traditions,
we can come closer to the so-called national culture,"
Pakubuwono XII told the press shortly after the ceremony.

"The role of the palace is more of a preservation of the long
history of the Javanese royal court, rather than a ruling
government," the Sinuwun explained.

Cultural Spokesman of the Palace KRMH Yosodipuro told The
Jakarta Post the title was given to Muchtar Byna for his efforts
to promote and to preserve Minangkabau's culture.

He said that Muchtar Byna is also the good friend of
Pakubuwono XII. Besides which, Byna's present wife, Raden Ayu
Noermari Rachmani, is of Surakarta royal descent, explained the
prince.

Muchtar Byna is not the first non-Javanese to be granted noble
status by the Palace. The Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung title, the
highest rank of the palace's executive, was previously awarded to
Sinambela from North Sumatra and Sidharta from West Sumatra.
Kanjeng Raden Haryo is the highest rank of the palace given to a
person considered as a royal member family.

Ceremony

The Jumenengan ceremony started after the presentation of the
titles.

About a thousand guests, including foreign diplomats, crowded
the Palace's main hall, Sasono Sewoko.

The six-hour ceremony started at 10 a.m., when the Sultanate's
procession entered the Sasono Sewoko. The Royal Doropati brigade,
dressed in rich traditional Royal court uniforms, led the
procession.

Sinuwun Pakubuwono XII, dressed in parang (the formal, royal
batik, combined with red-velvet jacket) and a black royal kuluk
(hat), appeared in the hall, escorted by young girls and old
women. He walked to his Sultanate throne to open the ceremony.

The ceremony reached its peak when nine young women dancers
performed the Royal Bedoyo Ketawang sacred dance. The Bedoyo is
the most refined and sublime dance found on the island of Java.
The original Bedoyo, called Bedoyo Semang, was created in the
17th century by Mataram's most important king, Sultan Agung
Anyokrokusumo. But almost every Sultan of Mataram contributed to
the repertoire by improving and creating new versions.

Despite its symbolical meaning for present times, the
Jumenengan ceremony is important proof to the Javanese that its
rich heritage deserves to be continued.