Igir mranak is a village located in Kejajar district, Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia. Igirmranak derives from igir means hills and mranak means a tree name that grew when the village was established as there are many mranak tree, so the village was called as igirmranak village. Mranak tree is species of tree that if it is decomposed, mushroom will overgrown on it. The mushroom tastes better than the other and estimated that this village was established in 1825 to 1830 in Diponegoro war period. The village is located on 2.215 m asl, the temperature is 14 to 22 degrees, covering 109,862  Ha and the inhabitants are around 715, located 4 km from its district and 21 km from Wonosobo city.

The temples parts were found by locals that seek for herb as their occupation. They found carved stone and dome shape when they explored Gunung Prau. They dug the dome that was partly buried by soil and they found that it was temple. They went home and told their neighbors. Locals then tried to dig the site but they quit when it was soaked by water, as they were afraid that if they continue will bring bad luck to locals. Remains found in this site were 2kemuncak and 1 yoni.

Currently the yoni is kept and treated as sacred stone.

Tani utun means traditional farmers that live humbly, conservatively, honestly, surrender their life and hard to accept new values. Tani utun can be found at Dieng Plateau, and other villages in Central Java or Yogyakarta. They live unlike common people in the middle of the information era, and modern way of thinking, that this will sound weird.

Tani utun are humble can be seen from their house, the way they dress, they eat, speak and often they ignore information around them, and this becomes very unique when they socialize or mingle with other people. They spend most of their time in their farms, from 6 am to 4 pm. They socialize only at night, by going to their neighbour to chat, or other village event. Their humbleness sometimes becomes problem for other people that ask them to think beyond their daily activities, or event to introduce new technology.

Usually if they are asked to change they will say this life should be lived and no need to do or be something that is unusual, they surrender to their life. Not every tani utun is hard to suffice their daily need. Many can get much money for their hard work, and economically spend their money. Though they have much money for luxury things, they still watch their expenses carefully and only spend for something really necessary. Money they get from crop usually kept under their mattress and  only known by husband and wife, their children usually do not know anything about this. There was true story when one day when children clean parents who just dies, they found large amount  of money under their parents mattress.

Their humbleness of thinking and behaviour is part of social life  and interesting especialy in Dieng region. They really carefully spend their money, honest and sometimes this behavior may seem like they are stingy. This money spending behavior is a way to respect their hard work along the weeks, days and year.

Tani utun has an amazing way to survive, maybe we can see it as unique that they consume vegetables from their farms, with corn or nasi jagung and sometimes with rice, or mix of rice and corn called as grontol. They eat sweet potato, potato, and casava as rice substitute.

Tani utun’s house usually is used as place to save their farming uquipments such as pacul,kawuk,gendhek,krundu,keranjang, krindik, panja,garu etc. They also store manure, and crops inside their house.

When potatoes Dieng was in its glorious day, many tani utun that has their own farms became very rich and their life started to shift, from humbleness to more modern style. They renovate their houses, with parabola antenna, but they keep the way they dress with sarung hang on their neck, jacket, shocking colors socks, flip flops. As they wear humble, and maybe weird for common people, when they enter car showroom, sometimes theie appearance manipulates the car showroom staff. Once there was Dieng farmer went to car showroom, and he brought two ugly plastic bags, the staff thought he was a beggar while actually he was intended to buy new car with 2 plastic bags of cash.

Purwacend is also known as Java’s viagra, one of traditional Indonesian herb for man. The latin name of this herb is Pimpinella Alpina. In the beginning, Purwaceng was only found in Dieng Plateau, Central Java, but later also other parts of Indonesia: Central Java, East Java and West Java ( Gunung Putri, Gunung Pangrango, andGunung Tengger). Purwaceng grow on hi altitude place  range from 2000 to 3000 meters. Physically, purwaceng is like tendril with small reddish green leave range from 1 to 3 cm.

Purwaceng leaves are proven to increase testosterone hormone and libido.  Since long time ago, locals had used it as afrodisiac herb and to relieve exhaust from work. According to research, Purwaceng also has kumarin as anti fungi, anti cancer and anti bacteria. dr Taufiq R Nasihun, made research about Purwaceng and tested this on 6 group of 10 sprague dawley (white mouse). Respectively the groups were given 2 ml aquades, 25 mg purwaceng, 50 mg purwaceng, 25 mg pasak bumi, and 25 mg purwaceng and pasak bumi.Pasak bumi is Eurycoma longifolia that has afrodisiac content. He gave those ingredient everyday orally.

Practically,testosterone of the mouse given 50 mg Purwaceng is the highest: 125%. Testosteron is steroid androgen hormone. Organ produces testosterone is testis for male and ovary for female. Testis produces testosterone  throughout life. Male produces 20 times more than female. 50 mg purwaceng dosage also raise luteinizing hormone up to 29.2%. Lutenizing is hormone produced by anterior hypophysis in brain and this stimulates testis cells to produce testosterone. This means that purwaceng gave direct and indirect as afrodisiac. 25 mg purwaceng raise 196.3% testosterone but luteinizing only increase 2.5%. Herbs can favor to temporary sexual activity problems. Why this tendril can increase testosterone? Pimpinella alpina has sterol,  furanokumarin bergapten, isobergapten,and  sphondin. Those compounds can be found in its root and stock. The first mentioned compound is conversed by human body into testosterone. While other compounds stimulate central nerve to produce luteinizing hormone.

Purwaceng showed no side effect on the research. Research shows 600 mg per day dosage for 14 days  shows no side effect to the mouse Other research purwaceng to human also has been conducted to 40 years or more men . 1 group is given 50 mg per day for 15 days, and the other group is given placebo capsule. The men given purwaceng everyday had their luteinizing hormone and free androgen index increased and fix androgen deficiency. Men with free androgen index 30-150 are normal and healthy. This is a good news for 40-50 years old man as they are amiltauson risk or testosterone decreasing symptoms for estrogenic environment pollution.

Each area city or area has its own tradition of typical of food, arts, costume, or even traditional house. In Central and East Java, they have joglo house as traditional house with Bayang as meeting point,  in Bawean, they have Dhurung located nearby their houses with same function as bayang.

Dhurung is name of a wall-less hut made of wood or bamboo and the roof is made of puhan leave or in Baweanese called as dheun. In Bawean tradition, dhurung is used as place to rest and release exhaust from sawah or farms. Dhurung is also place where locals mingle and even find someone to date. Usually dhurung is located in front or beside the house, sometimes the size is bigger that it has double function, also as barn for their paddy crops. In few old villages of Bawean, Dhurung is very familiar and it shows the identity and social class of the owner. They make Dhurung to maintain ancestor heritage and concominatntly as mean for socializing.

Dhurung has unique beautiful carving and its functions are for resting, socializing and as  barn. As barn Dhurung is completed with jhelepang, something like trap, to avoid mice and  insects. Dhurung existence is  rarely found now in Bawean especially in  new settlements and most of  inhabitants are young couples. This tradition begin to be ignored and they do not have sawah and due to narrow yard. It said only 30 percent of Bawean houses have Dhurung. Old Dhurung from Bawean houses are mostly purchased by visitors and taken from Bawean.

According to local history, Islam came in Bawean in the 16th century. Written record also mentions that before settling in Java, Maulana Malik Ibrahin, an  ullema from Turki and expert in the science of government, a deputi of Utsmaniyah Caliphate stopped in Bawean. If that was in the 13th century, then Islam was in Bawean since 13th century.

Sayyid Maulana Umar Mas’ud, is an ullema , descendant of Sunan Ampel that disseminated Islam in Bawean island.  For his service, Islam is accepted in all over Bawean after hard struggle and challenge.

In Bawean legend, Sayyid Maulana Umar Mas’ud could defeat King Babilelono who was evil and worship devil. The story is told as tale of Aji Saka fought against canibal king. Politically, after king Babilelono defeated, automatically Sayyid Maulana Umar Mas’ud became the leader of the island, with Islam value.

Long long time ago, Majeti Island (Old Bawean Island) was reigned by Goblin. Every creature on this island obeyed him. The ruler of this island was very popular and respected by all goblin kings in the surrounding area as he had a powerful strength for he had a virtuous tree, that they called as Kastoba Tree.

Oneday, the king ordered his trusted crew to call a  female and male black raven to come over him. When the raven were present, the goblin said ” Hi Raven, i am giving you new tough assignment, are you ready?”.They answered ” Yes we are, King”. King trusted them as they always succeed for any assignment. King asked them to be quiet to any one about what his was about to say and order. And both ravens agreed.  The King explained that their kingdom had a virtuous tree, and because of this tree, the kingdom was well respected. The tree name is Kastoba Tree. The root, stock, leave and branch  were useful to solve any bad luck or disaster. One leave of the tree even could heal various diseases. Its flower could make body immune from anything. Finally, he asked both ravens to protect the tree from anyone that knew the virtue of the tree.

Afterwards, ravens went to Majeti island and did their call. They were not alone as king goblin also asked other powerful genies to strengthen kastoba tree guards. Everything went perfect only both ravens were always spoke about things until the secret of the kingdom known by others and become a chit chat topic.

One day in a long dry season, as if it would burn the earth. Suddenly from far away, there was an old man walked slowly with his cane where Kastoba Tree grew. From close distance, he had skin disease all over his skin and his eyes were blind. He arrived at Kastoba tree that was guarded by ravens and genies. He meditated under the tree and waited until he got vision from sky so his disease and blind eyes could be healed. Though his eyes were blind, his hearing was very good still. He could hear a subtle conversation. He finally knew the conversation was between ravens stood not far from where he meditated.

The male raven said ‘ Poor old man that he is blind and seems that he had been blind for long time’. The female raven said ‘So what is on your mind?’. Male raven said ‘If he only knew the virtue of this tree that we guard, surely he would be healed from his blindness and disease’. Female raven replied ‘ You right, with one leave he could heal his eyes’. Hearing this, the old man became more curious. He was considering the ravens conversation. He could hear female raven said ‘Stupid old man, for years he tried to heal his diseases after arriving here he is not doing anything only sitting and silence.’ The male raven realized that they both have talked too much about the kingdom secret. And the male raven warned female raven to stop the conversation and they both silenced.

The old man was getting more and more curious and he decided to prove both ravens conversation. He stood and picked one leaf of kastoba tree. He dropped gum from the leaf to his eyes and miraculously he could see the world again. He took few leaved to cure his skin as well. After he was healed completely, he said to the ravens loudly: ‘ Ravens, Thank you very much now i am healed and it is because of your advice’ Hearing this scream, both ravens were shocked and realized that their conversation was heard and understood by the old man.

King goblin knew this, and he was very angry as his kingdom was threatened. The secret of the kingdom was revealed already. He then pull out Kastoba tree angrily with his power, and threw it away as far as he could. The tree flied to the sky and disappeared to the bottom of the sea.

King goblin punished both ravens as they failed to do their call. They were outcast from Majeti island, not only both ravens, all ravens were prohibited to live on the island. Until today, there is no ravens live on Bawean Island. The hole where Kastoba tree located was expelling water, like spring and it kept flowing and became a lake. That lake is Lake Kastoba that we can see today in Bawean Island.

In the special territory of Yogyakarta, there is a very traditional event Sekaten or also known as Pasar Malam Perayaan Sekaten, Sekaten Celebration Night Market, as before Sekaten, one month night market is held. This tradition is held since Demak Kingdom in the 16th , century annually every Maulud, the 3rd month in Javanese calendar, and it takes place on north square of Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat.

There are several versions about Sekaten term derives from. The first version is that Sekaten derives from sekati means name of two keraton heritage, gamelan instrument Kanjeng Kyai Sekati that is played in series of birthday of prophet Mohammad. Other opinion is that Sekaten derives from suka and ati (means happy) as people celebrate Maulud celebration by thanking God and happy for the night market event on alun-alun utara. Sekaten also believed to derive from syahadataini, two testimony of faith in Islam, confessing there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.

Sekaten is considered as mix of Islam propagation and art. In the begining, Islam in Java was spread by Sunan Kalijaga. He used Javanese gamelan to attract Javanese to come and enjoy gamelan instrument, Kanjeng Kyai Sekati. In the middle of the performance, he gave preaching intermezzo from the Koran and Islam knowledge.  People then asked to make testimony of faith if they wanted to be moslem. Among Yogyakarta society and the vicinity, by become participant in celebrating the birthday of prophet Muhammad saas, they do good deed, and will be forever young. As the condition, they should chew betel leave in Yogyakarta Great Mosque yard,e specially on the first day of Sekaten celebration. Therefore, during the celebration, there are many betel leave sellers, rice with coconut with its side dishes at Kemandungan yard, Alun-alun utara, or in front of Yogyakarta Great Mosque. For farmers, it is their opportunity to pray for good harvets, and for this they buy whip and bring it home. Before the spiritual held, there are 2 preparations, physical and spiritual preparation. Physical preparation is equipment for sekaten, such as Gamelan Sekaten, Gendhing Sekaten, some coins, some Michelia alba, Sekaten outfit, text of prophet Muhammad, and other equipment.

Sekaten Gamelan is the heritage of Kraton, Kanjeng Kyai Sekati that consists of Kanjeng Kyai Nogowilogo and Kanjeng Kyau Guntur Madu. Sekaten gamelan was made by Sunan Giri, who was an expert in karawitan, known as first pelog gamelan ever made. The paddles of gamelan were made of bull horn and to make good quality of sound, the paddle should be lifted as high as forehead before hit to gamelan. Gendhing Sekaten is series of music and song, Rambu pathet five, Rangkung pathet five, Lunggadhung pathet five, Atur-atur pathet nem, Andong-andong pathet five, Pendheng pathet five, Jaumi pathet five, Glitung pathet six, Dhindang Sabinah pathet six, Muru Putih, Prang aring pathet six and Srudeng gosong.

After Isya (night prayer), round 8 pm, abdi dalem in charge in bangsal give report to Sri Sultan that the ceremony is ready to start. After Sri Sultan order, Sekaten ceremony begins and Kanjeng Kyai Sekati gamelan is played. The first played is Kanjeng Kyai Guntur Madu with pathet gangsal, dhawah gendhing rambu. And then followed by Kanjeng Kyai Nogowilogo with gendhing racikan pathet gangsal dhawah gendhing Rambu. Both instrument played alternately. In the middle of the music, Sri Sultan comes closer and gamelan music is more mellow, until Sri Sultan leaves the room. Previously, Sri Sultan or his representative sprinkles udhik-idhik in front of Danapertapa gate, Sri Menganti room and Trajumas Room. On 24.00 shart, sekaten gamelan is moved to Yogyakarta Great Mosque and guarded by Mantrijero and Ketanggung troop. Kanjeng Kyai Guntur Madu is placed at the south of mosque gate while Kanjeng Kyai Nogowilogi is placed on the north of the gate. Gamelan sekaten is palyed over and over night and day for 6 days, except on Friday night until Friday prayer.

Grebeg Muludan

The peak of Sekaten celebration is Grebeg Muludan held every 12 Maulud, on prophet Muhammad birthday, from 8 am. A gunungan guarded by 10 sections of troops; Wirobrojo, Daeng, Patangpuluh, Jogokaryo, Prawirotomo, Nyutro, Ketanggung, Mantrijero, Surokarso,and Bugis. Bugis is made of sticky rice, various food, fruits and vegetables carried from Kemandungan palace through Sitihinggil and pagelaran to mosque. After this gunungan is prayed over, gunungan that represents the prosperity of Mataram kingdom is shared to people that belief that share of this gunungan will bring them luck. Gunungan is considered as sacred and taken home and plant at sawah, field to make farms fertile and free from various disasters.

Gamelan Sekaten that was initially played is located in Demak and owned by Sunan Giri. This instrument now is located in Kasultanan Cirebon and Kasultanan Banten. Gamelan in Kraton Jogja and Kraton Solo are the heritage of Sultan Agung Hanyokrokusumo. Sekaten gamelan was used as media to spread Islam ad mixed with Javanese culture. It said that this idea came from Sunan Kalijaga. Gamelan Sekaten was played at Gedhe mosque when Raden patah reigned in Demak with title as Sultan Bintara I. When Sultan Trenggono, king of Demak Bintoro married one one of her daughter to Fatahillah or Sunan Gunungjati, then he ordered Sunan Gunungkati to propagate Islam. Gamelan Sekaten from Kraton Demak then became the heritage of Keraton Cirebon. Other source wrote that Gamelan Sekaten in Kraton Jogja and Kraton Solo were not from Demak but from Sultan Agung Hanyokrokusumo. This confusion was because the history is not complete. In that period, Sultan Hadiwijaya from pajang told this when he was quarreling with Arya Penangsang from Jipang. It said that gamelan from Sultan Agung were Kanjeng Kyai Gunturmadu and Kanjeng Kyai Guntursari. After Giyanti treaty in 1755,   Kanjeng Kyai Guntur Sari belongs to Kraton Kasunanan Surakarta and Kanjeng Kyai Guntur Madu belongs to Kasultanan Mataran Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat. To complete the gamelan, Pakubuwono IV made gamelan set to replace Kanjeng Kyai Guntur Madu. Since then, Kasunanan Surakarta has sekaten gamelan Kanjeng Kyai Guntur Madu (sing sepuh/ the old one) and Kanjeng Kyai Guntur Madu (mutrani/ generation). In Kraton Kasultanan Mataram Yogyakarta, Sultan Hamengkubuwono I made pair for generation of Kanjeng Kyai Guntur Sari in Solo, with Kanjeng Kyai Nagawilogo. Nama derives from naga means dragon and Javanese believe that dragon can support the earth (mangku bumi). Wi means win and laga means war. So Kanjeng Kyai Nagawilaga means struggle of Prince Mangkubumi to win war and defend Kraton Mataram from Dutch by people support and favor. Both kasultanan and kasunanan then have complete set of sekaten gamelan, and annually they are taken out from palace and played. A myth says that whoever listen to the gamelan will be forever young.

This traditional dance is a type of folk dance from Wonosobo, Central Java and surrounding. The dancers were men and there is a philosophy about this. This kind of dance has been known for almost one century in Central Java. This performance was initially pioneered in Giyanti village by traditional art fibure from Kecis village, Selomerto district, Mt Gondhowinangun 1910.

60 years later this dance was developed by Alm Ki Hadi Soewarno and this made this performance more attractive than refined  Solo and Yogya style. Lengger dance was more like East Java dance and it said that this was originally from Kediri Kingdom. According to Giyanti local artists, lengger term derived from ‘elinga ngger’, means ‘, an advice to be aware, to remember. This dance has moral message to remember God, and do good deed to others.

The story of the performance starts when King Brawijaya lost his daughter Dewi Sekartaji. He held a contest that anyone could fine Dewi Sekartaji and brought her home will be rewarded to be the husband of Dewi Sekartaji if it was a man, and if it was a woman, she will be the sister of Dewi Sekartaji. This contest had many participants from knights all over the kingdom and surroundings. Two knights left to find the princes were Raden Panji Asmoro Bangun that under covered as Joko Kembang Kuning from Jenggala Kingdom.  And the other one is Prabu Klono from Sebrang Kingdom that made the princess ran as she was arranged marriage with him by her father. In his search, Joko Kembang Kuning was accompanied by his guards, and they disguised as  dancing troupe from place to place. The dancers was trans dress as female dancers in mask, with simple instruments. In every performance, people was so excited. And then later this performance is called as Lengger derives from ledek (dancer) and ger or geger means uproar. Until oneday, lengger performance could attract Dewi Sekartaji from her hiding place. But Prabu Klono found her existence first, and sent her sister Retno Tenggaron and soldiers to propose Dewi Sekartaji. But Dewi Sekartaji rejected him, and Retno Tenggaron and Dewi Sekartaji fought. Dewi Sekartaji won though.

Prabu Klono and Joko Kembang Kuning felt they they found Dewi Sekartaji and asked for the reward to the king. King Brawijaya decided that both contestants should fight for the reward. In this final contest, Joko Kembang Kuning was represented by Tawang Alun Knight and he could kill Prabu Klono in that fight. In the end of this story, Joko Kembang Kuning and Dewi Sekartaji married in glorious wedding and entertained by lengger dance performance.

When Islam came to Indonesia, lengger dance was used by Sunan Kalijogo, one of nine saints (wali songo) to spread Islam in Central Java. Sunan Kalijaga was an ullema that loved arts and traditions.

In its progress, this performance has negative image as it was used to tempt men and audience can enjoy the dance when they were drunk. Realizing this, Sunan Kalijaga disguise as female dancer and wore mask and dance lengger dance, but when the men audience began to be drown in the performance, Sunan Kalijaga released his mask. With this method, Sunan Kalijaga ,made speech about values, knowledge, norms of Islam. It turned to be a positive event from negative image, and until today lengger is known to be derived from elinga ngger, a dancing to teach human to remember God.

Lengger dance survive until 21st century and performed by two dancers, the male dancer wears mask and the female dancer wears traditional costume as Javanese princess in the past. Every sequence is performed in 10 minutes with instrument of gambang, saron, kendang, gong, and other instrument.

There is another dance performance that is adopted from lengger dance, one of this was Kenyo Lengger by Ngesti Laras troupe. The founder, Mulyani stated that Kenyo Lengger was performed by 5 women wearing sunglasses. The philosophy of this was that human should not be blinded by the world ( wealth, woman and position) , so they wear sunnies.

Currently, this performance is performed on wedding celebration, circumcision, thanks giving ceremony and other folk celebration events. This performance has also magic side that entertains people more.

In Yogyakarta, loro blonyo statue is found easily, in someone’s house, in keraton, or in hotel. Loro blonyo is pair of statue, female and male, in cross-legged sitting pose, or other positions and they wear can wear Javanese costume. Sometimes they wear batik ,basahan style, or other costumes of Javanese.

Archaeologist from Gajah Maga University stated that loro blonyo is symbol of hope. Female figure of loro blonyo is manifestation of Dewi Sri, the goddess of fertility. By acculturation dominating by Hindu belief, Dewi Sri statue found its mate, Wisnu. Thus, loro blonyo  defined as symbol of prosperity or continuous prosperity.

According to written record, loro blonyo was already exist since Sultan Agung period in 1476. Hinduism then manifested in something more universal, from Dewi Sri to bride and groom statue. Initially, loro blonyo was closely related to culture and only priyayi or the privileged owned it. In Joglo house, loro blonyo is located in senthong tengah or middle room, the private room for husband and wife.

Loro blonyo is preserved culture that it still exists until today, in modern era. Loro blonyo is the representative of host, and can be put anywhere in the house, not only in the private room of the house owner. It can be put in living room, or dining room. Javanese believe that loro blonyo presence creates positive feel. As written various source that culture philosophy explains how human’s relation to nature, can be living things or non-living things and if cared well, there will be something good in return.

Loro blonyo is representative of family life between husband and wife as beautiful relationship in harmony.

Two National Airlines, Merpati Nusantara Airlines and Sky Aviation are ready to serve flight to and fro Bawean airport, in 2013. They have met the authority to discuss about this proposal.
Transportation authority targets this airport will be operated in 2013. Bawean airport has 1200 meters long runway and is adequate to be landed by cassa and cesna with 50 passengers capacity.
Baweanese is predicted to used flight to and fro Bawean as wave condition is unpredictable. Baweanese mostly work as labour (TKI) to Singapore and Malaysia, and this new airport will favor the labor growth.
Currently, the construction project in Bawean is on last stage to complete the 800 meters runway to 1200 meters.