Monday, October 17, 2016

The making of Reyog

the process of making reyog ponorogo
The fascination of Reog Ponorogo has already spread around the world. The power of reyog's  player to lifting Dadak Merak, weighing up to 50 kilograms with only teeth was attracting admiration the audience.

But, do you know how hassle way to make reyog or usually called Dadak Merak ?

To make reog, at first must make barongan or a tiger's head. The raw material is wood of tiger's claw plant (dadap). besides light, the wood is also strong and durable. Once the wood is cut to size, then drew and sculpted. Recently installed tiger skins adorned with hair from cows tail.

Barongan (tiger's head)

The next step is to make the trimmer head of the peacock's feathers by using a framework of bamboo that has been formed. Peacock feathers are arranged to meet the bamboo frame. It Take one month to produce a Dadak Merak.
Dadak merak (peacock)


One Dadak Merak (Reyog) prices start from IDR 25 million to IDR 50 million. Reyog's buyer come from main cities in Java Island to Papua. Even from Malaysia, Japan, to the United States.

Pada Komentar

Friday, October 14, 2016

Nasi Pecel, the most spicy pecel in Indonesia

Beside Nasi Rendang and Nasi Goreng, Indonesia has another popular traditional meal. It's called Nasi Pecel, Nasi pecel is a Javanese rice dish served with cooked vegetables and sambal pecel or peanut sauce. The vegetables are usually kangkung or water spinach, long beans, cassava leaves, papaya leaves, and in East Java often used kembang turi (agathi flower, Sesbania grandiflora). It tastes best when eaten with fried tempe and traditional cracker called peyek. 


Pecel is popular as breakfast meal in East and Central Java. Pecel has a lot of version such as pecel Blitar, Nganjuk, Kediri, Ponorogo, and Madiun. Although the substance has no difference with others, but each has its uniqueness.

The differences Nasi Pecel Ponorogo with the other is on the taste of sambal pecel (peanut sauce). Sambal pecel ponorogo is more spicy and without kencur (kaempferia galangal) in ingredients.  
As a popular food, you can find a warung (stall) Pecel at any place and any time in Ponorogo. Each stall has a unique flavor and a unique way of serving, like Pecel Godhong Teak serving pecel with Godhong Jati (teak leaves) as a pedestal dish. 
Pada Komentar

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Dawet Jabung, Delicious Beverages from Ponorogo

Dawet is a kind of traditional beverages well known by most of indonesian people. And in Ponorogo, one of the most popular traditional beverages is Dawet Jabung. in Ponorogo Dawet Jabung has a legendary story alongside with another urban legend in Ponorogo.

In the past, selling dawet is the way for a young girls in effort to get their mate, especially at Jabung village. The girls will selling dawet then when a man who's feel in love with her will try to take the saucer, the pads of a dawet's bowl.

If the girls releasing the saucer, it's mean she accepted the man as the candidate of her future husband. Other way, the girls will not releasing the saucer to the man as the sign of rejecting.

At this time, many "Warung Dawet" still exist at Jabung village, althought selling dawet not longer needed by the girls for finding their mate. 

Dawet ingredients are from coconut milk, legen (roomie), cendol (a kind from rice flour) and some small slice of jackfruit added into it. This make Dawet has a distinctive flavor, sweet, fresh and less salty. 
Pada Komentar

Warok, The Story of Ponorogo Warrior

Warok Character in Reyog Dance (wikipedia.com)
Warok is the most popular character on Reyog dance, beside Reyog it self. The character of Warok describing a strong and wise people who always stand on righteousness. On stage, warok is more seen as punggawa or guard of King Klana Sewandana (young warok) or senior and teacher (old warok). 

At the earlier culture of Ponorogo, Warok known as warrior with their way of life and principles. They mastering martial art and magic for self defense or conquer the other warok on dominance the power and authority. 

In effort gaining strengths and magic most of warok must avoid having sex with women. Therefore warok often adopt a young boy to serve him as Gemblak. The rumor said if between warok and gemblak usually occur homosexuality behavior. Even until this recent time , the evidence of this beahior hard to find, the rumor never dissapear.  

Mbah Wo Kucing (Warok in real - the departed)
Until now, warok are still regarded as seniors in society. His closeness with spiritual world often makes warok give people advice on spiritual principle or peace in life. People say warok has to master Reh Kamusankan Sejati, the real human’s path. Warok is a troop which relies on truth in battle between kindness and badness in reog art story. Old warok is a protecting figure, while young warok is warok who is still seeking knowledge. Until now, warok is perceived as a figure who has to have certain magic power.

Pada Komentar

Grebeg Suro, National Reyog Festifal and Islamic New Year Celebration in Ponorogo

Grebeg Suro is the biggest culture event in Ponorogo regency that held on a certain occasion of welcomed Islam New Year or Saka New Year that often known as one suro date (one of Javanese month). This agenda entered East Java tourism calendar (Calendar of event). Grebeg Suro is the ritual culture incident and became the party site of Ponorogo people. Usually it begun a week before 1 Suro.


It is the series of Grebeg Suro agenda is National Reog Festival, various good activity sorts the race and the exhibition and ended with Larungan agenda in Ngebel lake. 

reyog performance in national reyog festival

Reog National Festival is held every year in Aloon-aloon Ponorogo in order to welcome the Islamic New Year, at the opening of the Grebeg Suro festival, marked with fireworks, as for participants who followed the festival came from several cities in Indonesia.

Kirab Pusaka (credit to tribunnews.com)


Kirab Pusaka is a anniversary parade of translocation the city from old city at Kauman Kota lama to Ponorogo city at present. The parade consist of procession of the city leaders and traditional troops who carried flags and old relics and followed by reyog convoy.

Larung Risalah Doa (credit to khabarjoss.wordpress.com)

Larung Risalah Doa is the ritual that describe the gratitude of the People for the wealth and prosperity on past years and symboli of bright hope for next year.
Pada Komentar

Ponorogo Annual Events

There are some annual events in Ponorogo which performing art, culture and tradition, Some of them are :

Islamic New Year Celebration (Grebeg Suro)

dance performance on grebeg suro opening ceremony  

 Grebeg Suro is the biggest yearly event in Ponorogo which where National Festival Reyog  is held. Furthermore, many cultural events will organized such as Larung Risalah Doa, Kirab Budaya (culture parade) and many more.

venue - Ponorogo center park, Ngebel Lake, Ponorogo city
Time- A week before Islamic New Year - Islamic New Year

Ponorogo Regency Aniversary

a row of girls at culture carnival 2015
In every year, Ponorogo celebrating anniversary with held culture carnival. This events will presenting Culture Tradition and Pop Culture of Ponorogo.

Venue - Ponorogo City
Time - August, 11th - Every Year

Indonesia Independents Day

reyog carnival at sawoo district
At Indonesian Independent Day, there are two event that you can watch. First Reyog Parade at Sawoo district and at Ngebel district for the second event.

Venue - Sawoo, Ngebel
Time - August 17 - Every Year

New Year Celebration

firework at new year celebration
The New Year Celebration is held at the Center Park of Ponorogo with Fire Work show at Center Park of Ponorogo

Venue - Ponorogo City
Time - December, 31th


Art performance which staging monthly

wayang kulit show
Reyog Dance - At Full moon in every month at Ponorogo Center Park

Wayang Kulit (Javanese Puppet) - At the last saturday in every month at Ponorogo Center Park
Pada 1 Komentar

Ponorogo Tourism Map

Ponorogo has many interesting place, such as Ngebel lake at the slope of Wilis mountain and Pletuk waterfalls.

 Look at the maps below
Ngebel  Lake
Ngebel lake is a natural lake located in District Ngebel, Ponorogo. Ngebel lake is in the slope of Wilis mountain with 734 metre height on the sea and the temperature 22 to 32 celsius. Ngebel lake located about 30 KM from the city center Ponorogo. The circumference of the lake Ngebel about 5 KM. The temperature is cool, distant cool to make visitors more comfortable visiting the lake Ngebel. 

Ngebel (credit to wakoka.co.id0



Toyomarto Waterfall

Toyomerto Waterfall or as known as Selorejo located in the Pupus Vilage, Ngebel, Ponorogo, East Java Province. Located about 5 kilometers from the Ngebel lake to the east. Toyomerto waterfall has two level waterfall, each level has a height of 25 to 30 meters.

Toyomerto (credit to elzhito.wordpress.com)


Pletuk Waterfall
Pletuk Waterfall or also known as the Coban Temu has a height of about 30 m and at altitude of 450 meters above the sea level. Located approximately 30 kilometers to the southeast of the city center Ponorogo or just south of the District Pulung. 

Pletuk (credit to asliponorogo.com)


Astana Srandil
Astana Srandil located in Srandil Village, Jambon District, about 10 km to the west of Ponorogo City. Astana Srandil is graveyard for the elders of Ponorogo. The graves lies on top of the  Srandil hill about 160 feet above sea level.

Astana Srandil (credit to asliponorogo.com)


Batoro Katong Grave
Batoro Katong grave located at Setono Village, 3 Km from the center of Ponorogo City. It's a tombs of the founder of Ponorogo regency. Headed to this place we will pass 7 gate till we entering the graveyard.

batoro katong grave's gate


Masjid Tegalsari
Mosque eith  javanese typical ornamentation like other old Javanese building located s a bit far from the city center Ponorogo, about 10 Kilometers to the south. More precisely in the Gendol, Tegalsari Village, Jetis, Ponorogo, East Java.

At first glance, Masjid Tegalsari looks like Masjid Demak with three tiered roof. But younger than the relic of Raden Patah and Walisongo, Tegalsari Mosque was built in 1742 AD.

masjid tegalsari



Sendang Tirto Waluyo
Located in the village of Klepu, Sooko, about 30 km to east from Ponorogo City. This park is one of Catholics pilgrimage in Java with Maria cave. This pilgrimage was inaugurated by Mgr. A.J.Dibjakarjana, Bishop of Surabaya with the name "Spring Waluyojatiningsih" on May 27, 1988. 

St. Maria Statue at sendang tirto


Goa Lowo 
Goa Lowo or Bat Cave is one of the pre historic site on Ponorogo. Dutch archaeologist, P.V. Van Stein Callenfels 1928 to 1931 discover  the fossil of a bone tools in the form of an arrowhead made from deer antlers and some other artefact. In the world of archaeological discoveries are then given name with Culture Bone Sampung.

Goa Lowo because in the cave there are thousands and even millions of bats. Goa Lowo located in District Sampung which is 20 km from the city of Ponorogo.

gua lowo (bat cave) sampung

Pada Komentar

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

The History of Ponorogo

Earlier Reyog Dance Performance (Tropen Museum)
Earlier Time of Ponorogo - Ponorogo region already exist and inhabited by humans since prehistoric period. The  finding of archaeological evidence of human existence that inhabit of Ponorogo. Such as research by dutch archaeologist, P.V. Van Stein Callenfels 1928 to 1931. The discovery of the fossil of a bone tools in the form of an arrowhead made from deer antlers to be an evidence of man existence at that time. In the world of archaeological discoveries are then given name with Culture Bone Sampung.

Ponorogo at Wengker kingdom era is a regularly civilization form, formed when the kingdom in Central Java Medang shifted to East Java. Among those moving are Kettut Wijaya who later formed the kingdom named Wengker circa  900 AD. Wengker by language means "Wewengkon Angker" or Dangerous Area because of natural conditions, as well as residents do not want to be colonized another kingdom at that time.

According to the Chronicle Ponorogo (Purwowidjoyo; 1997), after Raden Katong arrive at Wengker area, then choose a place that is eligible for the settlement (ie in the hamlet village Plampitan Setono District of Jenangan). Through  of many obstacles and challenges, Raden Katong, Selo Aji, and Ki Ageng Mirah and his family continues to establish settlements around 1482 M.

Year 1482 - 1486 AD, in order to achieve the purpose to developing area, Raden Katong approach Ki Ageng Kutu family and his follower. And with  support by all parties, Raden Katong establish pioneering duchy, in the late fifteenth century, and he became the first duke.

Ponorogo Duchy was established on August 11, 1496 AD, this date is later in the set as the anniversary of Ponorogo. Determination of this date is an in-depth study on the basis of evidence of the ancient objects in Ponorogo and surrounding area. And  refers to the book of Oriental History which can be found Bathoro inaugurated day as Duke of the Duchy Ponorogo. Bathoro Katong is the founder of the Duchy of Ponorogo which then evolved into Ponorogo Regency.

Steam Train in Ponorogo (Tropen Museum)

Train Bridge (Topen Museum)

River at Ponorogo (Tropen Museum)



Pada Komentar

Chicken Satay, the original taste from Ponorogo

Sate Ayam, or Chicken Satay is a variant of satay originating in Ponorogo. It is made from sliced marinated chicken, served with a sauce made of peanuts and chilli sauce and garnished with shredded shallots, sambal, and lime juice. This variant is unique for the fact that each skewer contains one large piece of chicken, rather than several small cubes. The meat is marinated in spices and sweet soy sauce, in a process called “bacem” and is served with lontong (rice cake).

There are may "Warung Sate" or Satay Restaurant in Ponorogo, the famous one is "Sate Ayam Pak Tukri Sobikun", located at Gang Sate, at Lawu Street. Start serve at 1995, with a small shop and in the decades later it became a big restaurant and visited many important figures. 

This Satay Restaurant has many visitor, especially during the holidays. Before fasting, visitors also crowded and back in a rather quiet time of fasting. Visitors will again bustling during Eid and beyond.



Pada Komentar

Reyog, The Legend of Bantarangin

The earlier Reyog Dance Performance in 1920
(Doc : Tropen Museum )
Reog is a traditional dance that become  the main identity for Ponorogo Regency. National Reog Festival is held every year along with the anniversary of Islamic New Year in Ponorogo regency as the Grebeg Suro celebration. Reog dance is also staged nightly on the full moon in main stage at Ponorogo town square. 

Reog tells the story about the struggle of a prince who will propose to a beautiful princess. Reog Ponorogo tells the story of a mythical battle between the King of Ponorogo and the magical lion-like creature called Singa Barong.

Reyog in earlier time - In a number of dance performances, known by different indigenous names (for kuda kepang and jathilan) are literally rode stick horses. Partly the horse dance has the character of a tournament, part of a trance dance, and is considered a shamanistic relic. Such performance has been and is often combined with other elements such as mask displays and native orchestras. In the picture depicted the story tiger Rajawana must be defused by 144 horsemen led by Bujangganong. (P. Orchard, 2001). The left figure represents mask Prob. Kelana Sewandana for which the court is certainly Pentul or Penthul.
Reyog in modern time - The Reog dance of Ponorogo involves a lion figure known as the singa barong. Singa Barong is a large mask usually made from a tiger's or leopard's head skin, on the mask is a large fan adorned with real peafowl feathers. The great mask spans over 2.5 meters with genuine tiger skin and real peacock feathers. It has gained international recognition as the world's largest mask.
The Singa Barong mask is notoriously heavy and the dancer of the Singa Barong has to carry the mask of about 30 – 40 kg in weight and is supported by single dancer with the strength of their teeth.

 The leading figures in Reog Ponorogo performance includes:

 Klono Sewandono, A man in regal attire wearing a mask with a proud and pompous dance and plays the role as the King of Ponorogo

 Bujang Anom also known as Pentul, are rough youthful men wearing red masks, they perform acrobatic dances and sometimes also involve trances.

 Jathil, the youthful and handsome men riding horses made of weaved bamboo, similar to the Kuda Lumping dance. Today, Jathil is usually performed by female dancers.

 Warok, plays as the Singa Barong, the mythical creature. The one who is allowed to perform this dance is called warok. A warok is the honorary title of the local hero or strongman of the village who possesses both exceptional spiritual and physical strength. The dance itself is a demonstration of physical strength.



Pada Komentar
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)