Mengenal Kebo Bule Keraton Solo, Hewan Sakral yang Jadi Ikon Kirab Malam 1 Suro

Download the TribunX news app on the Play Store or App Store for a new experience. TRIBUN-VIDEO.COM - The annual Kirab Malam 1 Suro (Night Parade) tradition at the Kasunanan Surakarta Palace always attracts public attention. The most anticipated part of the procession is the appearance of Kebo Bule, who walks at the forefront, opening the procession of heirlooms. Beyond its appearance, which is only seen once a year, Kebo Bule receives routine daily care from courtiers tasked with looking after the palace's sacred animals. Heri Sulistyo, one of the caretakers of Kebo Bule (Srati Mahesa) at the Surakarta Palace, stated that he has been entrusted directly by the palace to care for all the buffalo, which are an important part of this cultural tradition. "My name is Heri Sulistyo, and I was assigned by the palace to care for the palace's water buffalo. They're called Srati, Srati Mahesa," Heri said when met by Tribun-Video.com on Thursday (June 11, 2026). Currently, the number of Kebo Bule (White Buffalo) being cared for on the palace grounds has reached 16. This number increased after a new female buffalo gave birth about a month ago. "There are 15 buffalo, one calf, and now there are 16. This one just gave birth a month ago, and it's only one month old," he said. On a daily basis, Heri and two other people are tasked with ensuring all the buffalo receive optimal care. "There are three people every day. One cleans, one feeds, so the activities vary," he said. Care begins in the morning. Heri said he lives near the pen, so he spends most of the day caring for the buffalo, from feeding to cleaning the pen. "When I sleep here, I wake up early after dawn prayers and feed the buffalo around 7:00 a.m. WIB. After that, I clean the pen," explained Heri. Feeding is done up to four times a day, with a variety of foods, including corn, cassava, cassava, and grass, which are the main food. If a buffalo is experiencing health problems or is having difficulty eating, Heri will immediately seek medical assistance for further treatment. "If one is having difficulty eating, I call the vet. Sometimes, if it doesn't want to eat or is sick, I call the vet," he said. Kebo Bule also has special treatment for newborn buffalo calves, not just physical care. According to Heri, in palace tradition, a buffalo calf is given a feast after it is five days old, or sepasar, and is given a name. "Buffaloes usually give birth at sepasar, five days apart. The palace orders the calf to be given a feast and given a name," he said. He said each buffalo is tame because they are accustomed to interacting with their caretakers every day. "Actually, they're all tame, but when someone comes to feed them, they fight over each other. They raise them every day, so they know each other by heart; when they're called, they come," he said. The White Buffalo is widely known for always being a key part of the 1st Suro Night Parade. In this procession, the buffalo is placed at the very front as the Cucuk Lampah, or the one leading the way. Heri admitted to escorting the procession from behind, along with several other officers, whose job is to monitor the buffalo's movement throughout the procession. "The buffalo is a sacred procession, including the front. The Cucuk Lampah is a buffalo. I'm behind the buffalo, usually two in front, and one at the side. Each has its own specific role," he explained. He also encountered an unexpected situation when one of the buffalo turned around, startled by the sound of a vehicle during the 1st Suro Night Parade. "On the night of 1 Suro, the buffalo was startled by the sound of vehicles, so it turned around and was about to enter Gladak, returning to the town square. But it was anticipated, the gate was closed, and it was finally able to move again," said Heri. For the local community, the Kebo Bule may only be visible during the parade. However, behind this tradition, which has been passed down through generations at the Surakarta Palace, there is intensive daily maintenance to maintain the cultural symbol that has been ingrained for years. (*) Program: Local Experience Editor: Faiz Fadhilah #KirabMalam1Suro #malam1suro #kirabpusaka #keratonsolo #surakarta #kebobule #tradition #javaculture #malam1suro2026