Garebeg Maulud

The culmination of Sekaten ceremony is called Gerebeg Mulud. It is held on the 12th day of Javanese month Mulud. This festival starts at 07.30 AM, preceded by a parade of the Palace guard consist of ten units: Wirobrojo, Daeng, Patangpuluh, Jogokaryo, Prawirotomo, Nyutro, Ketanggung, Mantrijeron, Surokarso, and Bugisevery unit has its own specific uniform.

The parade starts from the yard of the northern Kemandungan of the palace, then across the Siti Hinggil, walk toward Pagelaran, and finally to the northern square. At 10.00 a.m., the "Gunungan" leaves the palace preceeded by Bugis and Surokarso squads. The Gunungan is made of food such as vegetables, peanuts, red pepper, eggs, and several delicacies made of sticky rice. It is mountain-shaped and symbolises the prosperity and wealth of the Mataram's land.

When the parade across the northern square, it is always greeted by a salvo of gun shots and cheered by the palace guard who have been waiting. Such a procession is called Gerebeg. The word Gerebeg means the 'noise produced by the cheering people'.

The Gunungan then leads to the Great Mosque to require bless. And then, after being blessed, the Gunungan will be scrambled by the peoples who believe that parts of the offering are sacred objects with spiritual power. Farmers often plant these parts of the scrambled Gunungan in their land because it is believed may keep out disaster and misfortune.

According to the annual Javanese calendar, there is other ceremony besides Gerebeg Mulud, namely Gerebeg Besar and Gerebeg Syawal; both Garebeg usually held after the Ramadhan month of fasting. Gerebeg Syawal is held on the first day of Syawal, and the Besar one is held on the tenth month of Javanese calendar related to the Qurban Idul Adha, which symbolise Moslem's sacrificial day.