STUDI ETNOASTRONOMI : PRANATA MANGSA DAN TARIAN BEDHAYA KETAWANG DI SURAKARTA

• Main Author: Dwi Wida Putri, Dian
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Astronomi
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/47963
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

As an agricultural country, Indonesian people use constellations or celestial bodies as a guide to the season, for example planting season, harvesting season, fishing, etc. Unwittingly they have applied astronomy in their daily lives, such as in Java, using Pranata Mangsa as a calendar for agriculture which refers to the constellation of Orion and asterism of Pleiades. The appearance of the asterism of Pleiades and the constellation of Orion has a difference of one month, during which the asterism of Pleiades rises first. The season in Pranata Mangsa is divided into 12, namely Kasa, Karo, Katelu, Kapat, Kalima, Kanem, Kapitu, Kawolu, Kasanga, Kasapuluh, Dhesta, and Sadha. Based on the results of the approach with the Balinese Caka Calendar, with the sky conditions in Surakarta, we get the results: In July to August the rice planting period in which the Orion constellation rises about 2° - 45° from the horizon and Pleiades asterism is at an altitude of about 27° - 50° from the horizon observed at 04.00 WIB. In October to November the rice harvest period where the Orion constellation is around 83° - 45° from the horizon and Pleiades asterism is at an altitude of about 41° - 16° observed at 04.00 WIB. However, this result is not suitable with the Pranata Mangsa because the planting period occur on Kapitu from December to February while the harvest time occur on Kasapuluh from March to April. At present, Pranata Mangsa is rarely used anymore, including in the Surakarta area which is the site of this research because according to one reference (Daljoeni, 1983), Pranata Mangsa as a "season setting" is most suitable for application in the area around Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu. The relationship of the Bedhaya Ketawang to the asterism of Pleiades is one of the dancer formations following the main star formations on the Pleiades asterism. “Bedhaya” means woman or bride, while “Ketawang” means sky. So, Bedhaya Ketawang is sacred ritualized dance from the sky which is only performed at the Surakarta Hadiningrat Palace during the Tingalan Jumenengan Dalem.