Parade to Commemorate Sultan HB X's 80th Birthday Next Thursday: Traffic Arrangements at Ground Zero
Village heads, officials, and Community Institution Village Councils (LKK) across the Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) will hold a parade to commemorate the 80th birthday of the King of the Yogyakarta Palace, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono (HB) X, on 2 April 2026. Traffic arrangements have been prepared along roads in central Yogyakarta.
The agricultural produce parade is expected to be joined by up to tens of thousands of people. Gathering points for each group are separated by district, so several roads will undoubtedly become congested.
Head of the Yogyakarta Transportation Department (Dishub), Chrestina Erni Widyastuti, stated that her side has prepared traffic arrangements by closing several roads. The road closures will begin on Thursday (2/4) at 06:00 WIB.
“Although the gathering point is at Ground Zero, it will already be closed from the north. Traffic flow from the northern side will be closed from Teteg to the south. Of course, the side roads will also be closed,” explained Erni during a press conference at the Nayantaka office on Monday (30/3/2026).
“From the east of Ground Zero, Jalan Senopati will be closed; from the west side, from RS PKU it will be closed. Then on Jalan Ibu Ruswo, it will be closed but at the intersection, the position at Plengkung will still be available for traffic flow,” she continued.
Meanwhile, the General Chairman of the Association of Village Heads and Village Officials of Nayantaka DIY, Gandang Hardjanata, explained that the parade will be held from the city’s Ground Zero Kilometre to the Yogyakarta Palace Grounds.
“Each village is estimated to have 20-30 people; we roughly calculate a total of 10-12 thousand,” clarified Gandang.
“We are open to the general public; those who want to join are welcome. But because we see the parking capacity readiness, we will limit it. So as not to use public facilities for too long, thus disturbing comfort,” he added.
Gandang stated that the parade is planned to start at 07:00 WIB. The groups will be divided by district with separate gathering places.
“The gathering points: for the City (Yogyakarta) at Malioboro; for DPRD and Kepatihan for Sleman and Gunungkidul. Kulon Progo at Ahmad Dahlan; Jalan Senopati is specifically for Bantul,” explained Gandang.
“The order: the first group from the City, followed by Sleman, then Bantul, Kulon Progo, and finally Gunungkidul. Gunungkidul last due to travel tolerance,” he outlined.
In the parade, Gandang continued, village heads and village officials will wear traditional Javanese attire. Meanwhile, participating community members will wear batik.
In addition, in the parade, each village will bring souvenirs called Gelondong Pangarem-arem. These souvenirs consist of agricultural products produced by each village.
“Based on the potential in each area: if Kulon Progo has durian, bring durian; those near the coast bring coconuts, that’s fine; the important thing is not to burden,” he explained.
“Perhaps from Gunungkidul friends bring cassava, that’s okay; whatever they have, not everyone has to bring the same,” he added.
Gandang stated that they do not mandate the Gelondong Pangarem-arem to be specifically brought. Everything depends on each area’s potential.
“Expressions of thanks because so far villages have been able to use palace-owned land, which also constitutes village revenue (PAD) for each village. From there, we want to offer a small portion of the results from those lands,” he concluded.