Festival in Solo

Solo is home to some of the most famous and well-known tourist attractions not only in Indonesia, but also all over the world. Solo is one of the premier cities of Central Java in Indonesia. The city is formally known as Surakarta, though it is more popularly known as Solo by the locals. Solo has developed a unique identity as a favorite tourist destination of the country. Solo is a leading educational and cultural hub of the nation. Festival in Solo forms an integral part of the culture of the local people. The people of Solo celebrate different colorful festivals and occasions.

One o f the popular festivals in Solo is the Sekaten or Garebeg Ceremony. The festival of Sekaten or Garebeg Ceremony is dedicated to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad. It's an annual festival that is arranged in the month of Mulud, which is the third month according to the Japanese calendar. The ceremony starts on the fifth day of the month. The Sekaten or Garebeg Ceremony, Solo continues for seven consecutive days. The Sekaten or Garebeg Ceremony, Solo begins at the midnight. The procession of the royal servants or Abdi Dalem marches with two sets of Gamelan being carried abreast. The Gamelans are plated till they are taken back to the Kraton Ponconiti Hall at midnight on the eleventh day of Mulud. According to the local belief, celebrating the occasion of Sekaten and listening to playing of Gamelans will reward the participants with prosperity and sound health.

Various royal occasions, festivals and majestic ceremonies are celebrated around Solo. Besides, festivals like Greberb Syawal Ceremony during the month of December or January, Garebeg Mulud Gunungan, Garebeg Besar in the month of March, Greberg Besar Ceremony and Labuhan Ceremony in the month of April, and the Tanggap Warsa Suro, i.e. the Javanese New Year is celebrated with great pomp and celebration.