Kalahayu Ritual
As a city of culture, Surakarta has many ways to preserve existing traditions, especially Javanese traditions. The Kalahayu ritual is a celebration to welcome the arrival of a solar eclipse.
According to Javanese history, this ritual was originally a form of fear of the Javanese people, especially the Surakarta Palace area, who thought that a solar eclipse was a sign of impending doom. It is believed that the solar eclipse occurred because of the wrath of Bathara Kala (God of Time) because of human actions which then made him eat the sun.
But then over time, the artists of the city of Surakarta turned this tradition into a joyful celebration. They want to spread the stigma that a solar eclipse is not a scary moment. On the other hand, a solar eclipse is a moment of marriage in the universe that must be interpreted positively and welcomed with togetherness.
Kalahayu Procession
The Kalahayu ritual begins with a carnival or parading of offerings shaped like a mountain made of various types of crops, such as fruit, nuts, rice, pala kependhem, spices, and so on. If you see this ritual, it is as if you are transported to the past because the offerings will wear costumes like ancient masters.
After the mountains have been paraded, the next procession is to hold Adeng-adeng. This is a ritual where the community gathers and makes a sound through the beating of a gong or mortar. In Javanese terms, this activity is called Klothekan.
As time goes by, the kalahayu ritual begins to get artistic touches to make it more interesting. This ritual usually includes dance performances, wayang tandur performances, and the making of Kyai Singkir Plastik’s kris.
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