Paguyuban Kawulo Keraton Surakarta, or pokoso, in monday evening, held a ritual of Tolak Bala, or warding off of misfortune, of Merapi mountain lava, in Prambanan Taji Pendopo. The ritual was intended as a prayer to the god almighty, so that natural disasters such as Merapi’s cold lava and other trials subside.
Residents in Prambanan and its vicinity is concerned, because Merapi’s cold lava nowadays is more dangerous than in the previous times. Currently, the regions of Prambanan, Kemalang, and Manisrenggo are affected. because of this, Paguyuban Kawulo Kraton Surakarta, or Pokoso, held the Tolak Bala Merapi ritual. The ritual was begun with a Tumpeng procession. The paraded culture symbols, among others, were, sacred Tumpeng, which symbolized purity of heart in praying to the almighty god, Tumpeng Golong, so that everyone is unified, and Tumpeng Giling or Tumpeng Sewu, which expressed that the event was held on the will of people and not individual, and there were many other symbols.
The Tumpeng procession was received by GKR koes moertiyah, as Pangageng Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat. It was later had prayers said for, and then eaten together. With this Tolak Bala ritual, it is expected that Merapi cold lava disaster can subside soon, and people are able to live peacefully, safely, and have a prosperous life.
