PBI News – Kadipaten Pakualaman held the sacred Hajad Dalem Labuhan traditional ceremony at Glagah Beach, Temon, Kulonprogo, on Wednesday (17/07). This sacred ceremony aims to seek prosperity from God while discarding negative elements symbolized by casting off ubarampe gunungan, which contains agricultural produce and clothing.
Known as Labuhan Sukerto, this tradition is held annually on the 10th day of Suro in the Javanese calendar or the 10th day of Muharram in the Hijri calendar. The ceremony began with a communal prayer at Pesanggrahan Pakualaman Glagah around 9:00 AM, followed by a procession of the ubarampe gunungan to Joglo Pakualaman on the shore of Glagah Beach, a distance of approximately three kilometers. The procession was accompanied by the bregada lombok abang, bregada plangkir, and the general public.
Upon arrival, two gunungan containing agricultural produce such as rice, secondary crops, and vegetables, along with one ubarampe containing used clothing from the Pakualaman family, were blessed and paraded towards the beach for disposal. This moment was eagerly awaited by residents and tourists who participated in the ceremony, hoping to collect the ubarampe gunungan.
KMT Sestrodiprojo, an Abdi Dalem Pura Pakualaman Urusan Kapanitran, explained that this year’s labuhan was different due to previous years being limited to the disposal procession because of the pandemic.
"This year's Labuhan Pura Pakualaman is more comprehensive, starting from the handover, communal prayer, procession, to the peak ceremony called Larung Sukerto, aimed at discarding negative elements or misfortune," he explained.
A total of five ubarampe were cast off this time, including two gunungan containing agricultural produce and rice. The other ubarampe contained clothing from Sri Paduka KGPAA Paku Alam, Garwa Dalem, and family, as well as nasi tumpeng and fruits such as bananas and coconuts.
"This labuhan signifies discarding sukerto or impurities, so that negative elements fade away. It is hoped that by disposing of sukerto, Kadipaten Pakualaman and the surrounding community can live in prosperity," Sestrodiprojo added.
The event was attended by the family and relatives of Kadipaten Pakualaman, the general public, and tourists who hoped to collect the ubarampe gunungan cast into the southern sea. One of the residents of Girigondo Wates, Purjiyem, along with her child, pedaled their bicycle to follow the procession and managed to collect peanuts, long beans, and chilies that would be replanted.
"I am very happy to get vegetables and rice. I hope it brings blessings and smooth fortune," said Farida Ambarwati from Purworejo.
Muhammad Hadi Masaid, a student from UIN Sunan Kalijaga who learned about the ceremony from locals during his community service (KKN), expressed his joy in participating and collecting a coconut that he and his friends would enjoy together.
With the preservation of this tradition, the community is expected to continue experiencing blessings and prosperity from the surrounding nature.