GREBEG SEKATEN OF YOGYAKARTA

ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY HELD FROM 5TH (THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AH, "RABIUL") UNTIL 15TH OF THE JAVANESE MONTH OF MAULUD, IN THE REGENCY OF DEMAK BINTORO SEVERAL CENTURIES AGO. ITS INITIAL PURPOSE IS TO COMMEMORATE THE BIRTH OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD.

Sekaten derived from the word syahadatain. Through Sekaten, religious leaders aim to introduced Moslem to the visitors. Whenever people entered the mosque porch, They were required to pronounce a confession of creed called syahadat, syahadatain or sahadat kalimah loro (in javanese language). In this day sets of gamelan will be played simultaneously until months of 11th Maulud for 7th consecutive days.

In the Great Mosque yard, They were asked to make a ritual ablution called "wudlu" by  washing their hands, faces and feet with water from the pond outside. Nowadays, Sekaten tradition has developed into a traditional festival involving thousands of people, and even domestic visitors and foreigners. 

The festival has become the pride of the Sultan and people of Yogyakarta, for it makes a meaningful contribution to the feature of the Special Region as a unique cultural tourism center.