Sungkeman tradition continues in Yogyakarta
Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
The Sungkeman ritual is still preserved in the palaces of Yogyakarta and Surakarta, Central Java, where the sultans are believed to be the heirs of the ancient Mataram kingdom.
This ritual allows commoners to show their respect to the sultan, to wish the sultan and court officials a happy Idul Fitri, and to ask forgiveness from each other.
In Yogyakarta, the ceremony is held after the Sholad Ied, or Idul Fitri prayer. At the same time, the Gunungan Grebeg or the food made for the ceremony, is carried from the palace toward the north square.
The Sungkeman ceremony lasts for two or three days due to the huge number of people who want to take part in the ritual. This year it took place in the Bangsal Kencana, a hall in the Yogyakarta Palace, from the morning until the evening.
The word "sungkeman" is derived from "sungkem", meaning to show respect by bowing on one's hands and knees.
In the case of the Yogyakarta Palace, the people show their respect by kissing the right knee of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, who is also the governor of Yogyakarta province.
Participants of the ceremony includes the family members of the sultan, regents, mayors and courtiers.
The ritual begins when the sultan leaves Gedong Jene, his official residence, and arrives at Bangsal Kencana. After he sits in his chair, the people waiting outside the hall come into the room and sit on the floor with legs crossed.
And then the sultan will say: "Maju (Move forward)." It is the only word said during the ritual.
One by one, in accordance with their position and rank, the people start to move forward to honor the sultan. They move while squatting as they are not allowed to stand up.
After kissing the sultan's knee, they will then move backward, also in the squatting position. The people are not allowed to turn their back to the sultan and they should not look directly into his eyes.
After all the people get their chance to show their respect and loyalty to the sultan, he leaves the hall without saying a word. Court audiences may leave after the sultan.
Due to an overwhelming numbers of participants, they are usually lined up in different groups in accordance with position and rank, and also gender.
All of the people who take part in the ritual must wear traditional Javanese clothes. The men wear blangkon (Javanese headdress) while the women, except members of the royal family, wear kemben (a kind of bustier) to cover the upper part of the body.
The sultan also wears Javanese clothes and carries a kris. What's unique, despite his power, the sultan's clothes cannot be decorated with any gold or diamonds because they symbolize worldly desires.