The sun was beating down as
thousands of people crowded along Malioboro street. They did not just stand on
the sidewalk but they ran over up to the road. The atmosphere was so noisy and
hectic. Bubbling laughter, screaming car horns, the strains of gamelan
cassette, up to shouting traders selling food and toys for children blended
into one. After waiting for hours, finally, the expected carnival troupe
appeared. Started by Bregada Prajurit Lombok Abang, royal carriage convoy began
to walk slowly. All squeezing wanted to see the couple of GKR Bendara and KPH
Yudhanegara who continuosly waved and spreaded a friendly smile.
That scene was seen as the party
of Kirab Pawiwahan Ageng of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X's youngest daughter from
Yogyakarta Palace headed to Bangsal Kepatihan. Thousands of people crammed
filling Malioboro Street that stretches from north to south. In Sanskrit,
Malioboro means flower bouquets because in the ancient times when the Palace
held an event, a mile-long road would be filled with flower bouquets. Although
time passed and the era has changed, Malioboro position as the main street
where a variety of carnival and celebration being held has never changed. Until
now Malioboro, Vredeburg Fort, and Zero Point remain a venue for a variety of
carnival starting from the event of Jogja Java Carnival, Chinese Cultural Week,
Yogyakarta Arts Festival, Carnival Malioboro, and many others.
Before it turned into a busy
street, Malioboro was a quiet road with a tamarind tree growing on the right
and left. This road was just passed by people who wanted to go to the Palace or
complex areas such as First Indische first in Yogyakarta, for instance, Loji
Besar (Vredeburg Fort), Loji Kecil (area next to the Great Hall/Gedung Agung),
Loji Kebon (Great Hall/Gedung Agung), as well as Loji Setan (Office of the
Parliament/DPRD office). But the existence of Pasar Gede or Beringharjo Market
on the south side and the presence of Chinese ethnic residential in Ketandan
area gradually boosted the economy in the region. Chinese group made Malioboro
as its business canal, so the trade area which was originally based in
Beringharjo and Chinatown eventually expanded to the north to Stasiun Tugu
(Tugu Train Station). Seeing Malioboro rapidly growing into the pulse of trade
and shopping centers, a friend said that Malioboro is the baby talk for
"mari yok borong (let’s buy a lot)". In malioboro you can buy
desirable range of merchandise ranging from beautiful accessories, unique
souvenirs, classic batik, gold and gems to household appliances. For souvenir
fans, Malioboro can be a fun hunting paradise. Walking on the shoulder of the
road while bargaining a variety of goods sold by street vendors, will be a
special experience. Variety of locally made souvenirs like batik, rattan
ornament, silver, bamboo handicrafts, leather puppets, blangkon, miniature of
traditional vehicles, accessories, until key chains, all can be found easily.
If you are good in bargaining, these items can be taken home with a fairly
cheap price.
Besides being a trading center,
the road which is part of the imaginary axis that connects Parangtritis Beach,
Panggung Krapyak, Yogyakarta Palace, Tugu, and Mount Merapi was once a nest as
well as perfoming stage by Malioboro artists lead by Umbu Landu Paranggi. From
them also, the culture of sitting on the sidewalk was popularized that
eventually rooted and is identical to Malioboro. Enjoying a romantic dinner in
the sitting stalls while listening to other street artist singing the song
"Yogyakarta" from Kla Project will be an experience that is marked in
heart. Malioboro is a series of history, stories and memories that are
intertwined in the minds of every person who ever visited. The charm of this
road had never faded by time. The exoticism of Malioboro continues glowing
until now and inspires many people, and forces them to keep coming back to
Yogyakarta. As beginning sentence in Melodia poem created by Umbu Landu
Paranggi "Love that makes me feel at home occasionally lasts",
memories and love of many people towards Malioboro that makes this road
continues persisting until now.
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