Yogyakarta Sekaten Festival

Sekaten is a week-long Javanese royal festival held annually at the Yogyakarta Kraton (Sultan’s Palace) to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (Mawlid al-Nabi). The tradition dates back to the 15th century, when it was used as a means of spreading Islam across Java through music, ceremony and communal gatherings. Today it remains a living royal tradition overseen by the Yogyakarta Sultanate and is one of the most distinctive cultural events in Central Java.

What Happens During Sekaten

The festival centres on the Kraton’s two sacred gamelan orchestras — Kyai Guntur Madu and Kyai Nagawilaga — which are brought out of the palace and played continuously for seven days in the northern square (Alun-Alun Utara) of the Kraton. These instruments are considered sacred heirlooms (pusaka) of the Sultanate and are only played during Sekaten. The sound is deep, resonant and unlike everyday gamelan — listening to them is the centrepiece of the festival.

The northern square and the streets around the Kraton fill with a large street market selling traditional Javanese food, crafts, batik cloth and a particular festival rice cake called wajik. The atmosphere is festive and crowded, particularly in the evenings when families come out in numbers.

The Grebeg Ceremony

The week culminates in the Grebeg Mulud ceremony, held on the Prophet’s birthday itself (the seventh day). Palace servants carry gunungan — large cone-shaped offerings made from food, including vegetables, rice cakes and fruit — from the Kraton to the Grand Mosque (Masjid Agung) for a blessing ceremony. Once blessed, the gunungan are surrounded by crowds who compete to grab pieces of the food, which is believed to bring good fortune. The scramble for pieces of gunungan is enthusiastic and chaotic — arrive early to position yourself well.

Practical Information

The Kraton and Alun-Alun Utara are in central Yogyakarta, easily reached on foot or by becak (cycle rickshaw) from most of the city’s accommodation. Entry to the Kraton grounds requires a modest admission fee. The street market in the northern square is free and operates daily from afternoon through late evening throughout the week.

Yogyakarta is well connected by train from Jakarta (around eight hours) and Surabaya (five hours), and by short flights from Bali, Jakarta and other Indonesian cities. See our Yogyakarta city guide for accommodation and transport options.