Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Sekaten

Img_0376

Sekaten is an annual event conducted in Jogjakarta (a city in Indonesia). It seems like night market which includes many entertainments, such as ghost house, circus, etc.

The origin word of Sekaten derives from several versions. Some say Sekaten comes from the word "Sekati" that is the name of two equipments of the sacred weapons of Kraton, in the form of gamelan which is known as Kanjeng Kyai Sekati used in the commemoration of Maulud Nabi Muhammad SAW. Others say that Sekaten comes from the word "suka" and "ati" (= like, pleasant) since the people are gathered in happiness during the evening market at Alun-alun Utara.

Another opinion says that Sekaten is obtained from "syahadataini", the most two famous sentences in Syahadat Islam, that is syahadat taukhid (Asyhadu alla ila-ha-ilallah) which means "I testify that there is no God but Allah" and syahadat rasul (Waasyhadu anna Muhammadarrosululloh) which means "I testify that Muhammad is God's prophet".

Text is adapt from http://gudeg.net/en/directory/72/345/Sekaten-Kraton-Ngayogyakarta-Hadiningrat.html