Surakarta Palace #2: Still About King Paku Buwono

Still on the topic of the Surakarta Palace. This is part two. Yesterday part 1, I talked about room one of the entire Surakarta Palace museum. So, I will continue to the next part.

In the next room of this museum, there is a fragment or piece of a temple corner. I forgot exactly which corner of the temple this was, or perhaps the guide didn't mention it. And right next to it is a stone called JAladwara, which is a water spout that is usually found in certain temples.

There is also a gong, which is used to mark certain times or events by striking it, a statue from the temple, and a replica horse that depicts the sultan's real horse.

Next, there is a stage or replica of a traditional royal wedding. The makeup they usually use is called PAES AGENG or BASAHAN SOLO. In the past, this was only done by royal relatives or noble families, but now it is no longer the case. Many ordinary people have adapted this concept for their weddings. Indeed, this makeup looks luxurious and elegant.

Then there is a large, brown painting using a carving technique. If you enlarge the image, you will see the details of the painting. It depicts a procession in which a noble is carried on a palanquin and his servants walk behind him. On the side of the painting, there are two striking gold objects. These are called jewellery stands.

On the next wall, there is a relief painting of traditional Javanese entertainment, such as KUDA LUMPING. You should know that what is unique about KUDA LUMPING is that it is a form of entertainment in which the main performer pretends to ride a horse made of leather, a two-dimensional horse, and then becomes possessed and eats abnormal foods such as glass or other things. He also frightens the audience because several times he will target spectators and chase them. It is both entertaining and frightening. There are people who play musical instruments to accompany the KUDA LUMPING performance.

Then there is also SODORAN. Ah, to be honest, I have never seen this one directly. It seems that this was only played in the past, because it also uses horses. This sport is no longer found in Indonesia. Next to the mural, there is also a replica of the equipment used for SODORAN. Why is it only a replica? Because the original equipment is very long, about 2.5 to 3 metres.

Then after sodoran, there is BESALEN. Besalen is certainly not a traditional sport or entertainment, but rather a blacksmith who makes tools or weapons made of iron. Two people can be seen making iron tools. The painting is very cute, isn't it?

Traditional introductions are indeed very diverse. For example, then there is WILUJENGAN. Wilujengan is a custom where people give thanks for something that may have been achieved. As in the painting, people gather and some lead in prayer as a form of gratitude to the Almighty (God).

That concludes my journey around the palace museum. Actually, there is one more section, but I forgot to take pictures, so I can only describe what I saw up to this point.

Thank you very much for faithfully reading my adventure story. See you in my next post. Bye.