Yogyakarta Palace's Garebeg Sawal This Year Confirmed Without Elephant Procession
Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat will hold a Hajad Dalem (court ceremony) to commemorate Idul Fitri 2026/Dal 1959 in the coming week. This year, there will be no elephant procession accompanying the Garebeg Sawal festivities, as occurred in previous years.
The Keraton’s official Instagram account @kratonjogja confirmed that elephants will not participate in the Garebeg Sawal Dal 1959 procession scheduled for Friday, 20 March. This decision follows the issuance of Circular Letter Number 6 of 2025 by the Directorate General for Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems (KSDAE) of the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, which mandates the cessation of elephant displays at conservation institutions.
“In accordance with Circular Letter Number 6 of 2025 on the Cessation of Elephant Displays at Conservation Institutions from the Directorate General for Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems (KSDAE) of the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, the elephant will not participate in the Garebeg Sawal Dal 1959,” the palace’s official statement noted.
The ceremonial agenda will commence with a dress rehearsal of the Garebeg Sawal security brigade on Saturday, 14 March, running from Kagungan Dalem Kamandungan Kidul to Alun-alun Kidul (South Square). The ceremonies will conclude with the Ngabekten Putri procession on Saturday, 21 April. During the entire event series, certain palace tourism facilities will be closed for two days.
The schedule includes:
Saturday, 14 March: Dress rehearsal of security brigade at Kagungan Dalem Kamandungan Kidul to Alun-alun Kidul
Tuesday, 17 March: Numplak Wajik ceremony at Panti Pareden, Magangan Complex, Keraton Jogja
Friday, 20 March: Garebeg Sawal procession beginning at the palace, proceeding to Masjid Gedhe (Grand Mosque), Kepatihan Pura Pakualaman, and Ndalem Mangkubumen; followed by Bedhol Songsong at Kagungan Dalem Gedong Sasana Hinggil Dwi Abad, South Square; and Ngabekten Kakung (male procession) at Keraton Jogja
Saturday, 21 March: Ngabekten Putri (female procession) at Keraton Jogja
The palace has announced that tourism units at Kagungan Dalem Kedhaton and Tamansari will be closed for two days on Friday, 20 March and Saturday, 21 March, whilst Kagungan Dalem Wahanarata will remain open during regular hours from 09:00 to 14:00 Western Indonesian Time.