This film documents the central role played by the two archaic palace gamelan sekati, K.K. Gunturmadu and K.K. Nagawilaga, in the yearly Sekaten ceremony (commemoration of the birth of Mohammed). Over a seven-day period annually, Javanese traditionalists have the opportunity to hear these pusaka gamelans in their primary role as indices of Islam and to be reminded of the inherited responsibility of the Sultan to serve as the protector of religion (“sayidin panata gama“) and the successor of Mohammed (“kalifatulah“). The film shows examples of the reverence for these gamelans held by members of the traditional negara and of the practices associated with their yearly appearance.
