Malam 1 Suro: Silent Walk Around Yogyakarta Palace Walls Held Today
The Tapa Bisu Lampah Budaya Mubeng Beteng tradition, regularly performed by the royal servants of the Yogyakarta Palace alongside the community, is held annually to commemorate the eve of 1 Suro. This year, the ritual for 1 Sura 1960 Be in the Javanese palace calendar will take place at the turn of the day on 16-17 June.
KRT Kusumanegara, Chairman of the Karaton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Royal Servants Association, explained that this ritual is entirely a hajat kawula, an initiative born from the people, by the people, and fully supported by the Palace, which lends various facilities for the procession. He emphasised that the essence of Mubeng Beteng, or circling the fortress, holds a profound spiritual dimension for each individual. The tradition is not merely a walk, but a bridge for introspection.
“The tradition carries a message to guard the fortress within oneself, such as the fortresses of faith, morals, and rules that prevent one from straying from the proper path,” he stated. Along the route, participants are invited to reflect on memories of the past year and weave new prayers so that their steps in the coming year may be more directed in commemorating the eve of 1 Suro. The procession follows a historic route around the palace’s defensive walls, starting from the Pelataran Keben, heading towards Ngabean, crossing Pojok Beteng Kulon, proceeding straight to Plengkung Gading, passing Pojok Beteng Wetan, moving along Jalan Ibu Ruswo, entering the Alun-Alun Utara area, and finally returning to Keben.
In the series of events to welcome the new Javanese year Be 1960 at the Karaton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, several other agendas are also scheduled. These include a Ringgit Wacucal Gedhog shadow puppet performance of the Panji story ‘Jaya Berdangga’ on 16 June from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Western Indonesia Time, the Hajad Kawula Dalem - Lampah Budaya Mubeng Beteng on Tuesday night (16/6) at 11:30 p.m. until the early hours of Wednesday (17/6), and the Hajad Dalem Jamasan Pusaka & Rata on Tuesday-Wednesday (7-8/6), which is closed to the public.