Surakarta Palace Holds 393rd Haul of Sultan Agung

The Surakarta Hadiningrat Palace held the 393rd Wilujengan Kholdalem commemoration for Sinuhun Sultan Agung Prabu Hanyokrokusumo on Saturday Legi, 18 July 2026. The traditional ceremony, coinciding with 2 Sapar Be in the Javanese year 1960, was centred at the Sewayana Sitihinggil Hall within the palace complex.

Pengageng Sasana Wilapa and Chair of the Palace Traditional Council (LDA), GKR Koes Moertiyah Wandansari, familiarly known as Gusti Moeng, explained that the wilujengan is a regular tradition to honour the great services of Sultan Agung. Beyond paying respect, the ritual serves as a means of offering prayers to Allah SWT for the safety of the nation, the community, and the preservation of Javanese culture.

The procession began with the conveyance of ceremonial offerings from Sasana Handrawina to the Sewayana Sitihinggil Hall. Various offerings were prepared as symbols of respect, including damayu, suruh ayu, complete sego gurih, and ingkung.

Upon arrival at Sitihinggil, the ujub procession was conducted, followed by the recitation of tahlil, zikir, the Syahadat Qures, and the Sultan Agungan Salawat. This sequence of prayers is a standard procedure in wilujengan ceremonies for the king, royal family, or sentana dalem within the Surakarta Hadiningrat Palace.

The ceremony was attended by at least 500 participants, including royal courtiers (abdi dalem), royal relatives (sentana dalem), and members of the public. In accordance with customary rules, participants wore white Jawi jangkep padintenan attire.

Gusti Moeng noted that this year’s commemoration was more modest compared to previous years. This was due to a packed schedule of traditional ceremonies and pilgrimages conducted by the palace during the month of Suro.

“We hope that the Surakarta Palace will always receive better enlightenment so that it can continue to carry out its duties and obligations as a source of Javanese culture,” said the daughter of the late PB XII.

The wife of KPH Eddy Wirabhumi also asserted that the commemoration of Sultan Agung’s haul is an important moment to seek blessings so that the palace can continue to fulfil its role as a centre for cultural preservation. To this day, all customary procedures and cultural standards of the palace remain a guide for Javanese society in various traditional ceremonies.

“The hope is that all of this cultural heritage will remain sustainable and can continue to be passed down to future generations,” concluded Gusti Moeng.