RRI.CO.ID, Yogyakarta - Yogyakarta celebrated a moment of unity and cultural pride with the first-ever Village Officials Cultural Parade (Kirab Pamong Se-DIY) on Thursday, April 2, 2026, held in honor of the 80th birthday of Yogyakarta King and Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X.

More than a ceremonial procession, the event symbolized the Sultan’s dedication to preserving Javanese heritage, strengthening community bonds, and maintaining Yogyakarta’s distinctive identity amid modern change.

The parade began at 7:30 a.m. local time at the Pagelaran hall of the Yogyakarta Palace, located right to the south of the North Square. The Sultan was welcomed with Gending Raja Manggala, a gamelan composition reserved for royal appearances, before the procession set off.

From the city's Ground Zero, nearly 13,000 participants representing 438 villages marched along the legendary street Jl. Malioboro, carrying offerings of agricultural produce and local small-business products.

Each contingent was led by its respective village and subdistrict official, dressed in traditional attire -- lurik shirts and blangkon for men, black kebaya with jarik for women -- reflecting values of dignity, etiquette, and cultural continuity.

The atmosphere at Yogyakarta’s “ground zero” was festive yet solemn, with thousands of residents lining the streets to witness the event. Participants walked in sequence: starting with Yogyakarta City, followed by Sleman, Bantul, Kulon Progo, and Gunungkidul Regencies.

Their offerings, known as pisungsung, symbolized gratitude and respect for the Sultan, who later returned them symbolically to the people through mayors and regents.

Among the participants was Herdian, secretary of Sidokarto village in Godean Subdistrict, Sleman Regency, who shared how his community prepared for their contribution for the event along with the meaning behind it.

“We prepared it for about five days, finishing everything just last night," Herdian said on the sidelines of the event.

He said Sidokarto brought in products from its local SMEs, such as Jempol Food and Onigiri, along with cassava, corn, chicken, and fruit. "These represent both our agricultural roots and the creativity of our community,” he added.

He highlighted how Sidokarto combined traditional produce with modern enterprise, showcasing items like salted eggs, wajik (sweet rice cake), chicken nuggets, and frozen foods produced by Jempol Food, alongside fresh crops grown locally. This blend of heritage and innovation reflected the pride of village communities in contributing to the parade.

Herdian also shared that the Onigiri -- branded as Suki Onigiri -- is produced by Sidokarto residents and has become popular nationwide, often found in convenience stores like Indomaret and Alfamart.

He noted that many people are still unaware that this widely recognized product originates from Sidokarto, making its presence in the parade a proud moment for the village.

“We decided to carry jodang, a traditional wooden chest, instead of gunungan (cone-shaped offerings)," said Herdian, adding that for the people of his village, jodang better symbolizes gratitude, togetherness, and sharing. "It reflects our intention to celebrate joyfully and to give thanks collectively.”

The decision underscored Sidokarto’s unique approach, choosing a form that represented communal values of cooperation and generosity rather than the more common gunungan, which traditionally symbolizes a personal ritual or celebration.

The jodang carried by the Sidokarto contingent contained not only crops like cassava and corn but also poultry, fruit, and SME products such as Onigiri and frozen chicken nuggets, embodying the spirit of guyub rukun -- living harmoniously and sharing blessings among neighbors.

“This is the first Village Officials Cultural Parade, and already it feels extraordinary. With thousands of participants, it shows the special character of Yogyakarta," he said, adding that such a scale of cultural unity would be difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Upon arrival at the Palace, the Sultan, accompanied by royal attendants and guests, received the offerings before symbolically redistributing them to the people. Around five gunungan were presented, while Sidokarto’s jodang stood out as a unique gesture of communal gratitude.

The celebration continued with a people’s feast, featuring hundreds of angkringan (wooden cart for selling foods) stalls set up by the palace, reinforcing the spirit of sharing and togetherness.

The inaugural Village Officials Cultural Parade was not only a birthday tribute but also a vivid reminder of Yogyakarta’s enduring cultural strength and its ability to unite thousands in a shared expression of heritage and devotion to the Sultan. ***