Cupu Panjala

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2.5 ( 6 Voter(s) )

A. Overview

In the middle of the night, people were counting down to the thrilling moment at the house of Dwijo Sumarto at Mendak Girisekar Village, Gunungkidul. Smoke was coming out of the cigarettes to ward off the cold night. The smell of incense made the atmosphere even more mystical. A sound was heard when sheets of hardly-called-white shrouds were opened one by one. All of a sudden, everyone snatched away to see the picture on the shroud.

Thas is a brief description of a ceremony that was held at the house of Dwijo Sumarto, Kyai Panjala’s heir. This ritual is held regularly every Kliwon (the 5^th day of the five-day week in Javanese calendar) in every dry season in Ruwah month. This isone of the the most-waited events not only by the local people of Gunungkidul, but also those from other regions in Special Province of Yogyakarta, even from outside towns like Surabaya, Bandung, Jakarta and Bogor.

This ritual is the Cupu Panjala opening. Cupu Panjala refers to the three jewelry boxes (in Javanese language the box is called cupu) kept in a wooden box of 20 x 10 x 7 cm and wrapped in thousands of sheets of shrouds. Next, the boxes are kept in a secluded room for a year until the next Cupu Panjala opening.

Since the first Cupu Panjala opening ritual, the boxes have been moved three times, following the residence of Kyai Panjala’s heirs. Cupu Panjala is handed down through generations. Since 1957 hitherto, Cupu Panjala stays in Mendak Girisekar village, Panggang District, Gunungkidul Regency, precisely at the house of Dwijo Sumarto who is the seventh generation of Kyai Panjala.

Cupu Panjala opening is an annual agenda which has been legitimated by the Royal Palace of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat. Every year, the royal servants of the Palace come to give assistance to the opening ritual. In its execution, those who reveal the shrouds must wear Javanese traditional clothes and fast a day prior, including Dwijo Sumarto himself.

Throughout the years, the number of people wanting to see this ritual keeps increasing. This may be because this ritual is open for everyone. Most of the participants bring roosters and foodstuff which will later be cooked and eaten together. The roosters and foodstuff are brought as the gratitude of the granted vows as the Cupu Panjala prophecy says. Thise who have wishes or seek for Cupu Panjala’s blessings also bring some foodstuff.

The enthusiasm of people in the Cupu Panjala opening cannot rule out the people’s believe on the accuracy of the prophecy of the picture on the shroud. The picture is often related to the prophecy on the social, economical, environmental (natural) and political situation. Whereas, historically, at the beginning the Cupu Panjala opening ritual aimed as an effort to predict the agricultural condition.

Cupu Panjala opening began from the story of Kyai Panjala. Once, there was a father, also a student of Sunan Kalijaga (one of the Wali Songo) who lost his child in the sea. Seeing that his student is in calamity, Sunan Kalijaga tried to help him by telling him that during his search in the sea, he had to fast for seven days and nights. Also, he had to bring a handful of rice and net. The student obeyed what his teacher told to.

When the net was thrown into the sea, the child caught along with precious things, in which the jewelry boxes were among them. Given that the son was caught on the net, he was then named Kyai Panjala (in Javanese language jala means net), while the boxes lifted along were then called Cupu Panjala. The boxes were then wrapped with shroud because they were believed to be something valuable and magical. After that, they were kept in a cupboard. The three boxes were named Kyai Semar Tinandu, Kyai Palang Kinantang and Kyai Kethiwiri.

A few moments later, the cupboard was opened and when the boxes were revealed there were water spots on the shroud. The spots formed something almost a picture which was then read as a prophecy. Back then the prophecy was to predict the agricultural condition. Often in the Cupu Panjala opening ritual there found stuff like needle, dried paddy, nutshell and many more. All these articles are translated into prophecy.

B. Features

Cupu Panjala opening is a ritual that combines mystic and culture and is well-appreciated by the people who still hold on it. The number of the ritual participants shows how much people enthusiasm.

The mystical aspect of this ritual is shown in the special prayers and incense burning before and after the opening. It is also apparent in people’s strong belief in prophecy by enthusiastically coming to Dwijo Sumarto’s house. If examined from cultural point of view, this ritual is an effort to preserve a tradition as well as its values. This is strengthened by the presence of representative of the Cultural and Tourism Agency in every ritual performance.

The oracle which is translated from the picture on the shroud is made as measurement for people to read the coming situation. By doing this they prepare themselves to deal with the situation.

C. Location

Cupu Panjala ritual is held at the house of Dwijo Sumarto, the seventh generation of Kyai Panjala, precisely at Mendak Girisekar Village, Panggang District, Gunungkidul Regency, Special Province of Yogyakarta.

D. Access

The location is accessible either by private or public transportation. If you choose to take a public transportation, take the Yogyakarta – Wonosari bus from Yogyakarta Bus Station and get off at Wonosari Terminal. Then, you should continue by minibus (usually green) heading for Panggang District. Visitors can ask for prior information on the ritual to the Tourism Board of Gunungkidul Regency on (0274) 391031.

E. Ticket

Watching the Cupu Panjala opening ritual is free of charge. Spectators are only asked to keep the location clean and be order during the ritual.

F. Accommodations and Other Facilities

Usually, before and after the ritual there is a mass banquet (dhahar kembul) as an expression of ngalap berkah. The menu in the dhahar kembul consists of nasi gurih (rice cooked with coconut milk), srundeng (fried grated coconut) and lalapan (raw vegetables eaten as side dishes). All participants must join the dharah jembul, in which a plate of dish is for 2-3 people.

In addition to the feast, the Regional Government of Gunungkidul Regency in cooperation with the committee prepares supporting facilities for participants’ convenience. Some of them are tents, parking area and wide screen for those watching from the house yard.

Text: Tunggul Tauladan
Photo(s): Collection of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Apri Widiastuti
(Primary data and various sources)

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