Sekaten Ceremony in Surakarta.

Ceremony Traditions Sekaten in Surakarta as the symbolic value of Ceremony Traditions Sekaten in Kasunanan Surakarta Palace, in the form of the origins of convening Sekaten with the establishment of the Kingdom of Demak as a center of Islamic proselytizing by Raden Patah and Wali Songo.    

The spread of Islam was made with the local culture culture with Islamic teachings. For that made a momentum which coincided with the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, which preaches by using the media gamelan. Society was interested, and those who come to the mosque given mission and requested to read the Creed as the pledge and the recognition of self to God.          

This is getting a positive response, and long known as Sekaten. The procession in the ceremony Sekaten Tradition in Kraton Kasunanan Surakarta  that is marked by rung gamelan sekaten, in the Great Mosque for the first time. During one week of the Great Mosque yard filled with crowds, by the traders who sell merchandise typical sekaten, foreign tourists, as well as people who want to listen to the strains of Gamelan Kiai Guntur Madu and Kiai Guntur Sari placed in the Hall of North and South Great Mosque.          

At the peak of the program, issued the Gunungan from the palace. Communities from different regions came to attend the event, including the tradition scramble Gunungan that are trusted by the community will bring blessings and good fortune. Symbols contained in the Folklore Ceremony Traditions Sekaten in Kasunanan Surakarta Palace, which is found in the Gunungan issued by the palace. 

Gunungan it as a form of gratitude from King to God, upon overflow of blessings and grace that is given. Clearly sekaten tradition embodied moral values ​​as the nation's cultural richness that has good values ​​as a mirror of the soul and personality of the Indonesian people, for it must be conserved for its existence is not displaced by foreign cultures. In its development, Ceremony Traditions Sekaten in Kasunanan Surakarta Palace in a relatively long course will experience changes, additions and reductions.    

In the ceremony will also experience a change and shift, but still holds the value and sacred. The cause is spreading the story that made orally, passed on from person to person first hereditary from generation to generation. Yet human beings have memory and limited capabilities. To keep is not lost and to avoid changes to the folklore which holds the background and development of Tradition Ceremony Sekaten, it is necessary to documentation.                                                                                                                                          

The origin Sekaten.                                                                                                                   From folklore, celebrations Sekaten in Surakarta is public property, with proven enthusiastic people who celebrate it seriously for a week to follow the ceremony Sekaten Tradition, to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW. With this activity, it can be used as an appreciation of literature because it can guide people towards understanding and ideas in the event based on the practice that has been done and become a tradition for centuries.

At the ceremony of tradition, which is part of the customs is one of the Javanese culture to maintain harmony with nature, the spirit world. As evidence, Keraton Kasunanan Surakarta  until now still has a variety of culture results. Evidence from all of that is to be held some traditional ceremonies, such as : bathing heirloom Ceremony, Sekaten, Labuhan Ceremony, Grebeg Ceremony and so forth. These activities are still maintained.

Back in earlier times, people are very fond of Javanese gamelan. So when the Guardian will give lectures or lessons about Islam, held inside the Mosque art of gamelan music. The event was a concern of society and eventually became interested. If the community group are interested, of course together will come together. So the Guardian would easily give lectures or lessons about Islam.

Therefore for the purposes of spreading Islam, the Guardians created a set of gamelan, named : Gamelan Kyai Sekati. From the Guardians of the proposed agreement Sunan Kalijaga (also a Guardian) is determined on the day of birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW. in a mosque held by gamelan music.

In fact many people who come to the mosque to listen to gamelan music Sekaten (Kyai Guntur Madu and Kyai Guntur Sari), which was held right on the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. Held at the Great Mosque Hall. At the peak of the event, called the ceremony Grebeg the ceremony for safety with the release of Gunungan from the kingdom. The king issued a pair of  Gunungan (son and daughter) from the palace which have safety significance and fortune.