Suro's Night 1 in Yogyakarta: This Year's Mubeng Beteng Tradition Begins with Rare Gedhog Puppets

The evening celebrations for 1 Suro, or the Javanese New Year Be 1960, in Yogyakarta are set to offer a unique atmosphere this year. The tradition of Lampah Budaya Mubeng Beteng, held annually on the first night of Suro, will commence with a performance of Wayang Kulit Gedhog, a rare art form that is seldom staged in Yogyakarta today.

The series of events is scheduled to take place from Tuesday evening (16/06/2026) until early Wednesday morning (17/06/2026). Before participants embark on the silent and solemn walk around the Yogyakarta Palace fortress, the public will be treated to a Ringgit Wacucal Gedhog puppet show featuring the play Jaya Berdangga. The presentation, organised by the Kewedanan Kridhamardawa of the Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, will be held in Kamandungan Kidul Ward from 19:00 to 23:00 WIB, led by puppeteer MB. Cermo Wignyoutomo.

“Usually, to welcome the Javanese New Year, the Abdi Dalem Association organises the Hajad Kawula Dalem Mubeng Beteng. This year, we from Kawedanan Kridhamardawa have contributed by presenting a Gedhog skin puppet performance held before the dawn of the Mubeng Beteng tradition,” said MB. Cermo Gupito, the production manager for the performance, in a statement on Sunday (14/06/2026).

Cermo Gupito noted that the puppet performance serves as a period of reflection for the community before performing the spiritual practice of the Suro 1st night through the Mubeng Beteng walk. Wayang Gedhog is one of the rare assets belonging to the Yogyakarta Palace that focuses on Panji stories, in contrast to the more widely known Purwa puppetry which features the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics.

Through this Javanese New Year momentum, the Keraton hopes that this art form will be recognised and sustained within the community once again. “People can use the puppet performance to seek ‘sangu’ (provisions) for introspection, as many life philosophies are contained within the titles of these puppet stories,” he added.

Following the puppet show, the public may join the Hajad Kawula Dalem Lampah Budaya Mubeng Beteng, which will commence at 00:00 WIB from the Bangsal Pancaniti of the Yogyakarta Palace.