Kirab Pusaka - Surakarta Municipality
January 9th, 2008

Kirab Pusaka is the heirlooms parade, which is held annually by Kasunanan palace and Mangkunegaran palace in Solo, and aimed to celebrate Javanese/Islamic new year. In Mangkunegaran palace, the ritual starts at 7 P.M. by the parade of traditionally dressed soldiers carrying the heirlooms around Mangkunegaran complex. While in Kasunanan palace, the procession begins at midnight and attended by the whole Kasunanan Royal family. The most interesting part of the procession is that the participation of the king's albino buffalo so-called Kyai Slamet. The people believe that the buffalo can bring fortune.

Baritan (Sea Offering) - Pemalang Regency
January 10th, 2008
The ritual is about throwing offerings called "Jolen" (shaped like boat which is filled with food stuffs, fruits, drinks) to the open sea done by fishermen in Asemdoyong village, Taman district, approximately 6 kilometers from Pemalang city centre. The Sea Alms ritual is annually held to express their gratitude towards God and to wish of having a better life in the coming years. One week prior to the ritual, the night market and art performances are held to provide the local people and visitors with entertainment.

Carnival of Bride and Bridegroom of Lurah Traji -
Temanggung Regency
January 10th, 2008

Lurah is village chief. In every Assyura (1st Javanese month) at 06.00 P.M., people in Traji village hold tradition of Carnival of Bride and Bridegroom of Lurah Traji. The village chief and his wife wearing the wedding dresses followed by the people do carnival from the residence to Sidukun spring and do offering ceremony there. The carnival then continued to public hall of Traji village where the leather puppet show is played. Along the way to public hall, Lurah Traji gives coins to merchants, and the merchants give things as an exchange. These coins are believed as talisman to make their things sold.

Haul Kyai Raden Santri - Magelang Regency
January 10th 2008

Haul means an event to commemorate the death of Islamic figures, as the expression of respect. Haul Kyai Raden Santri is held on every Muharam 1st (the first day of Islamic year) at the residence of Kyai Gus Jogorekso Gunungpring. The rituals include reciting Holy Koran, devotional visit to the grave of Kyai Raden Santri, and local art parade.

Jamasan Tosan Aji and Ruwatan - Purworejo Regency
January 10th, 2008

In every Assyura (1st Javanese month), some regions in Central Java province hold an event called Heirlooms Cleansing. The heirlooms to be cleaned are Keris (Javanese weapon), spears, swords, etc., which are supposed of having magical power. One of the heirlooms cleansing ritual is held at the Tosan Aji museum, Purworejo. Heirlooms which is believed as an inheritance of Cokronegoro I Regent, is also cleansed in the ritual. Besides Heirlooms Cleansing, the museum Tosan Aji Purworejo hold the ritual of Ruwatan. Ruwatan is a Javanese ritual aimed to keep someone out of bad luck, particularly for people which is called Sukerta (like for example the only son or daughter, 2 sons or daughter, etc.) The ritual is symbolized with Batara Kala (Evil Gods) who always disturbs the unlucky children. Ruwatan procession is long and takes some steps. It begins with the performance of Wayang Kulit (leather puppet show) entitled Murwokolo. The unlucky children then have their hair cut and the clothes which is worn by the dalang (puppeteer) then thrown to the sea.

Mapag Tanggal - Salatiga Municipality
January 10th, 2008

Mapag Tanggal ceremony and the visiting the graveyard of Ki Hajar Sampurno in Randuacir village, Argomulyo district, Salatiga is one of tradition to express gratitude to God. This event is conducted annually on the 1st, of Assyura (Javanese calendar). It is begun by bathing in Senjoyo spring while carrying an egg and empty bottle and be under water as long as it can take. The ceremony of offering (consist of various dishes like sticky rice, etc) carnival is held in the middle of the night at 00.00. It is ended up by praying, eating the ritual meals especially |i-"nasi aking"-i| which is believed can bring a lot of blessings and distributing eggs and water, which are taken from the spring which is also believed as a media to know their future in the next coming year.

Prince Samodra's Tomb Curtain Replacement -
Sragen Regency
January 10th, 2008

The replacement of tomb curtain of former public figures in Java is annually celebrated with a certain ritual. The replacement of Prince Samodra's tomb curtain, which is located at a hill in mount Kemukus in the middle of Kedungombo dam, will be held on January 10th, 2008. The late Prince Samodra, so-called as Prince Jadog, was a noble family from Demak Bintoro kingdom. In the evening prior to the tomb curtain replacement, the visitors pray in the Prince Samodra's graveyard area. The easiest access to get to mount Kemukus is via Sumber Lawang sub-district, Sragen regency. From Sumber Lawang, visitors may proceed by a motorcycle or a small boat across Kedungombo dam.

Grebeg Suran Baturraden - Regency Banyumas
January 18th, 2008

Grebeg Suran Baturraden is the ceremony of earth offering to express the gratitude to God for the blessing and good harvest. Grebeg Suran is held every Assyura month on Tuesday Kliwon or Friday Kliwon (Javanese calendar). The procession of the crop parade such as rice plants, vegetables, cassavas, corns, etc, starts from Wana Wisata Baturraden and ends in Petilasan Baturraden which lies on the north of the entry gate of Baturraden tourism attraction. The crops is also completed by 5 colours Tumpeng (sticky rice which is shaped like a cone) and "Jolen" filled with various dishes which will be thrown on the river of Gumawang in Baturraden.

Traditional Ceremony of Ruwatan - Demak Regency
January 18th, 2008
Ruwatan is a long maintained Javanese ritual aimed to keep someone out of bad luck, particularly for the only son or daughter, and for 2 sons or 2 daughters. The ritual is symbolized with the Batara Kala (Evil Gods) who always disturbs the unlucky children. Ruwatan procession is long and takes some steps. It begins with the performance of Wayang Kulit (leather puppet show) entitled Murwokolo, continued with the Sungkeman ritual, that is showing respect and honor done by the unlucky children by kneeling down and kissing their parents' hands. The unlucky children then have their hair and coat cut by a dalang (puppeteer) and then thrown to the sea.

Sunan Kudus' Tomb Curtain Replacement - Kudus Regency
January 19th, 2008
This is a replacement of tomb curtain ritual of Sunan Kudus's graveyard. Sunan Kudus was one of the nine moslem preachers (Walisongo), who propagated Islam in Java Island in 15th century. The ritual is held annually at the Kudus Minaret mosque backyard on Assyura (1st Arabic/Javanese month) 1st, at 7 A.M. The event is highlighted with religious gathering as the manifestation of gratitude to God. The most interesting part of this event is when the visitors are rushing to get a piece of the tomb curtain, because they believe that it can bring fortune.

Local Cultural Performance - Karanganyar Regency
January 20th, 2008
Local Cultural Performance is held at Sukuh temple in the closing ceremony of Local Cultural Festival which is conducted during the Suro month (Javanese calendar). This performance will start at 09.00 A.M. on Sunday Pahing in Sura month (January 20th, 2008).

Rawa Pening Offering - Semarang Regency
January 25th, 2008

Rawa Pening Offering is held to thanks to God for the blessing He gives. The ritual takes places in Bukit Cinta, Rawa Pening tourism atrraction in every Assyura month (Javanese Calendar). This tradition is started by carnival of Tumpeng Agung (specific sticky rice for religious ceremony) surrounds the villages of Kebondowo and Banyubiru, which is then thrown to the Pening swam with the torch decoration.

Labuhan Ageng - Wonogiri Regency
January/February 2008
Labuhan Ageng is ritual from Kasunanan Surakarta palace which has been held since Mataram kingdom era, based on the belive that Sembukan beach in Paranggupito district, Wonogiri regency is the 13th gate of the South Sea palace. That gate is believed used by the queen of South Sea to meet and visit kings of Java from Mataram dynasty who hold the power in Kasunanan palace in Surakarta. This sea alms event is also completed by art performance.

Sea Offering - Tegal Regency
January/February 2008

Sea Offering is held annually by some fishermen in Tegal regency in Muharram month (first month in Islamic year) aimed to gain blessing from God. In the event, the fishermen dispose the ritual offerings to the open sea.