Traditional ceremony by people of Gamping, Sleman by slaughtering a couple of Bekakak (bride doll) which is made of sticky rice and Javanese sugar. This ceremony is held as a pray to God, to get freedom from disaster and illness

Custom ceremony name
BEKAKAK

About Bekakak
Bekakak ceremony at Gamping mountain often called as Saparan. It’s called Saparan because this ceremony has to be held at or within Sapar month. The word “Saparan” which consisted of words “sapar” and suffix “–an”, came from traditional party ceremonial that held every Sapar month. This “Saparan” is only the imitation of human that seems like bride doll with cross-legged position that made from glutinous rice-flour.

Location
Mount Kliling and Gung cave, Ambar Ketawang village, Gamping, Sleman

Event Performer
Gamping resident

Time of Performance
Friday every Sapar month at date between 10-20, at 2.00 pm

Time of performance participation
Thursday, a day before performance

Custom ceremony initiator
Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I

Purpose when the event was held for the first time
The purpose of this ceremony is to give respect to the spirits of Kyai Wirosuto and Nyai Wirosuto and family. He is “Penangsang” servant (shade servant) of The Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I, highness umbrella carrier anywhere Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I reside in and not follow to move from Ambarketawang Palace (pesanggrahan) to a new palace. Kyai Wirosuto is assumed as the origin of Gamping resident.

Ritual Leader
Village Elder

Ceremonial process
the process of ceremony is detailed into several phases, which are:
a. Midodareni Bekakak
b. Carnival
c. Slaughtering
d. Sugengan Ageng

a. Midodareni Bekakak
The words “Midodareni Bekakak” came from Javanese language “widodari” which means angel. This words has meaning that at Midodareni night, angels came down from heaven to earth and give blessing to “Bekakak” bride. This ceremony take place at night (Thursday), begin at 08.00 PM, two “jali” contain of “Bekakak” bride and a “jodhang” contain of offerings with a pair of husband and wife of “Gendruwo” and “Wewe”, all ridden away to the Ambarketawang countryside hall. At this Midodareni night, prayers was performed.

b. Bekakak Bride Carnival
Bekakak bride carnival is a carnival that brought “jali” contain of “Bekakak” bride to the slaughtering place. The offerings arrangement “Sugengan Ageng” also brought together in the carnival. This event start from countryside hall to the ex-Mount Ambarketawang as the first slaughtering place, then going to the second slaughtering place at Mount Kliling.

c. Slaughtering Bekakak Bride
Held in  Gung Cave of mount Ambarketawang, previously, conducted  prayer with moslem scholar. Finish the prayer, the soft rice’s doll of a couple of bride is slaughtered and cut to pieces to be alloted to all visitor, that way also other offerings. Pageant later go to the Mount Kliling to slaughter the secondary bekakak bride.

d. Sugengan Ageng
Held in guesthouse Ambarketawang led by Moslem scholar executed with the prayer read and after finishing, it is marked with the release of a couple of white pigeon bird. Hereinafter conducted a Glorious Sugengan offerings allotment.

Ceremony follower
Siciety of Gamping

Offerings / “ubo rampe”

Offerings arrangement of custom ceremony of “Saparan Bekakak”

• Two roosters which is placed in each “jolly”
• Saucer contain of 4 kinds tumpeng rice  that is “tumpeng wuduk”, “tumpeng robyong’, “tumpeng Megono” and “tumpeng wejangan”
• A boiled egg
• A chili
• Javanese traditional snack  / “jajan pasar”
• Jamb ( seven kinds of rice porridge )
• A bottle of gin
• A bottle of palm oil with pelita on the surface ( Juplak )
• A jar of  freshwater 
• Buffalo flesh
• A cluster of yarn ( lawe )
• A flimsy Bamboo
• Jantera weave ( kisi) with a few threads
• Walnut
• Rasher of Bathok bulus
• “Ingkung”
• An egg
• Two young coconut
• A coconut
• “Panjang ilang” ( small dish from young coconut leaves matting )
• Golong rice
• A grilled chicken
• Wuduk rice
• Two taboo and sheet of mayang stuck in front of joli