Kelanawisata.id, Sleman - On Sunday morning (February 8), thousands of residents flocked to line Jalan Raya Berbah. They gathered to watch and participate in the procession, which began at the Berbah Subdistrict Office and proceeded to the Sulthoni Wotgaleh Mosque. The procession was attended by Sleman Deputy Regent Danang Maharsa and his entourage, who rode in a procession of Andong horse-drawn carriages.

What is Sadranan? Nyadran symbolizes the bond between ancestors, nature, and humanity. This ritual blends local cultural elements with Islamic teachings, so, naturally, it retains traces of Buddhism and Hindu-Animism, which were later integrated with Islamic values by the Wali Songo.

This ceremony holds significance in drawing closer to the One True God, honoring ancestors who have passed away, and strengthening community bonds to preserve the village environment. The Sadranan Agung Wotgaleh procession is held ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, specifically after the 15th of Ruwah (Syakban) on the Javanese calendar.

Participated in by 15 hamlets in the Sendangtirto village, the procession fills Berbah Main Road. The residents wear traditional surjan lurik attire, complete with jarik and blangkon. Each hamlet carries a gunungan filled with agricultural produce, such as vegetables, fruits, and grains, as well as snacks. Additionally, several hamlets brought a bregada drum corps to accompany the procession.

Upon arriving at the Sulthoni Wotgaleh Mosque, the Poerboyo Bregada escorting the residents’ group was received by court officials from the Yogyakarta Palace. The leadership entered the porch of the Sulthoni Wotgaleh Mosque to participate in the event. Meanwhile, the procession of residents and the gunungan entered the mosque courtyard. The gunungan were then blessed by the village head and distributed to the residents.

“It’s a new experience—back home, we only had a grave-cleaning ceremony to welcome Ramadan. I didn’t expect so many people celebrating—up to 16 gunungan,” said Anto, a visitor from Kudus.

The Sadranan Agung Wotgaleh ceremony is held ahead of the holy month of Ramadan as a form of respect for the elders who have passed away. The tomb of Prince Purboyo is located on the west side of the Sulthoni Wotgaleh Mosque. This event is quite large in scale as it involves residents from one village, as well as neighboring villages.

“As for its uniqueness in the Yogya context, many places might hold similar processions, but what sets this apart is that it’s conducted on a much larger scale compared to other regions. For me, it’s unique because this is my first time witnessing a Sadranan ceremony in person,” added Anto.