REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YOGYAKARTA -- The traditional Javanese Sultanate of Yogyakarta presented agricultural produce piled in the form of seven cones as offerings to its people in a "Grebeg Syawal" event to mark the end of the Islamic fasting month on Thursday.
Five of the cones were paraded from the Palace guarded by traditional soldiers to the Grand Mosque, watched by the public, one was paraded till the Yogyakarta administration office and yet another till the Puro Pakualaman palace.
The five cones of produce were immediately offered to the public after these arrived at the mosque and prayers were said upon them.
People quickly partook of this produce as they had been waiting for the event since morning. People believe this would bring them blessings.
Sugiarti (67) from Bandung, West Java, admitted she was enthusiastic to receive the produce as she had not witnessed the ceremony for five years now.
Although she could only get two stalks with a ball of red glutinous rice on the tips, she said she was happy. She believed it would bring blessings.
"I will take these stalks home to Bandung," she said, accompanied by her grandchildren.
Agung (48) from Patuk, Yogyakarta, to whose lot fell four pieces of soybean fruit, believed it would help shoo away bad luck.
"This traditional ceremony needs to be continued to attract tourists. I have always attended every "grebeg" ceremony, be it for syawal, maulud or besar, whenever held by the palace," he said.
He said he would string the soybean fruits on the doors of his home.
A palace official, Enggar Pikantoko, said Grebeg Syawal is an event to celebrate the end of Ramadhan.
Historically, he said, the five cones, named "Gunungan Wadon" "Gunungan Lanang", "Gununang Gepak", "Gunungaan Pawuhan" and "Gunungan Bromo," are symbols of alms from the king to his people and also a mark of the king's gratefulness to God.
"Grebeg is always held to mark the Islamic holidays, such as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and the Prophet's birthday," Enggar said.
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