DIY Sacred Prayer for Safety on the Slopes of Mount Merapi

KabarJawa.com– A thin mist enveloped the slopes of Mount Merapi as the slow steps of thousands of people followed the sacred climbing route from Kinahrejo, Cangkringan, Sleman.

In the midst of the cold air and the smell of wet earth, the Yogyakarta Palace revived the Labuhan Merapi Tradition, a sacred traditional ritual full of spiritual, historical meaning and prayers for safety for the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY).

The Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace held the Labuhan Merapi Traditional Ceremony as part of the Tingalan Jumenengan Dalem series, commemorating the 38th anniversary of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X’s reign as King of the Yogyakarta Palace.

This sacred procession took place on Tuesday (20/1/2026) and is a sign of the strong spiritual relationship between humans, nature and the Creator.

Labuhan Merapi Sacred Procession

The Labuhan Merapi ceremony started at 06.00 WIB from the Mbah Maridjan Petilasan Museum Hall. The caretaker of Merapi, Mas Kliwon Suraksohargo Asihono or Mbah Asih, directly led the procession together with the servants of the Yogyakarta Palace.

The group walked a distance of around 2.5 kilometers to Bangsal Srimanganti Hargo Merapi, the main location for the harbor implementation.

The climbing route traversed is not just a physical path, but a spiritual space that holds prayers, hopes and respect for the natural power of Mount Merapi.

“The Labuhan Merapi ceremony is a means for people to know, understand and love Javanese cultural traditions. The palace presents this ritual to the wider community,” said Mbah Asih, son of the late Mbah Maridjan, in a calm but meaningful voice.

The Yogyakarta Palace held the Labuhan Merapi Tradition with the main aim of praying for safety and keeping people away from disaster, especially for the DIY area.

Through this ritual, the Palace also offers prayers so that the community remains safe and peaceful if Mount Merapi experiences volcanic activity in the future.

“This tradition contains the hope that Merapi will always bring blessings, not disasters. We ask for safety for the people of Yogyakarta,” said Mbah Asih.

The harbor procession is not just about placing offerings and then leaving them. The palace actually distributed ubarampe and food that had been prayed for to the community. People believe that this blessing brings blessings, safety and peace of life.

The Labuhan Merapi ceremony presents various sacred ubarampe, each of which holds a deep philosophy.

• Beside Cangkring
• Kawung Kemplang
• Semekan Gadhung
• Semekan Gadhung Mlathi
• Semekan Bangultulak
• Poleng Ciut Village
• Dhesthar Daramuluk
• Flight alarm
• Ridiculous Lisah Rites
• Overlapping Yatra Envelopes
• Ten pieces of Ses Wangen
• Apem Mustaka

“Every ubarampe has a meaning. Semekan Banguntulak, for example, symbolizes the hope to ward off evil and keep people away from bad things,” explained Mbah Asih.

After the prayer procession, the committee distributed rice balls and side dishes to the public and tourists. Residents believe this food brings blessings because it has gone through sacred palace rituals.

Cultural Arts Performances Celebrate Jumenengan Dalem Heritage

Apart from traditional processions, the Yogyakarta Palace also presents various arts and cultural performances as the closing of the Tingalan Jumenengan Dalem series.

The performance includes the Yogyakarta style classical dance Sekar Pudyastuti, wayang kulit with the play Lampahan Wahyu Kalimosodo, as well as other traditional arts performances.

This arts performance emphasizes the Palace’s commitment to preserving Javanese culture as well as introducing the richness of Yogyakarta’s traditions to the younger generation and the wider community.

The Labuhan Merapi tradition can become a cultural tourism magnet. Thousands of people, domestic tourists and even foreign tourists take part in this procession with great enthusiasm.

Volunteers from various elements such as SAR, Scouts, health workers and local communities helped oversee the ceremony so that it took place safely and in an orderly manner.

Enthusiasm was increasingly felt when people scrambled to watch the ritual procession and receive the blessings of the harbor. Their presence proves that ancestral traditions remain alive and relevant amidst modernity.

The Deputy Regent of Sleman, Danang Maharsa, also attended the Labuhan Merapi Traditional Ceremony with Paring Dalem Surakso Hargo (Mbah Asih) and servants of the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace. The presence of the regional government confirms its support for the preservation of Yogyakarta’s noble culture.

Upon arrival at Bangsal Srimanganti, the series of ceremonies continued with the main ritual, group prayer, and distribution of blessings to the community and tourists present.

The Yogyakarta Palace’s Labuhan Merapi tradition is not just an annual ritual. This tradition is a guardian of harmony between humans and nature, as well as a cultural heritage that teaches the values ​​of gratitude, togetherness and respect for universal power.

On the slopes of Merapi, prayers continue to flow along with the morning mist. The Yogyakarta Palace reiterates that culture is not just a thing of the past, but a way of life that continues to burn for the safety and peace of Yogyakarta. (ef linangkung)