The Saparan Traditional Ceremony, a series of annual traditional ritual processes in the Sapar month of the Javanese year, is an expression of gratitude and respect for the services of Ki Ageng Wonolelo, an authoritative and populist Islamic preacher. Ki Ageng Wanolelo Traditional Saparan Ceremony. The ceremony is expressed by an important symbol of the distribution of apem cake alms to the people who attend. It was carried out by the heirs of Ki Ageng Wonolelo with the full support of the people of Wonolelo Hamlet and the Widodomartani Village Government, Ngemplak District, Sleman Regency.
The background of the implementation of the saparan ceremony is the community's sense of respect for their ancestors or pepundhen, Ki Ageng Wonolelo as a hero who has been instrumental in instilling cultural norms and values. Guiding the goals of society to get safety and peace of mind. The form of respect is reflected through the implementation of the Saparan Traditional Ceremony. In the series of Saparan ceremonies there is also a carnival of Ki Ageng Wonolelo's heirlooms. That said, these heirlooms are closely related to the origins of the Wonolelo Islamic Boarding School.
Ki Ageng Wonolelo or Syekh Jumadigeno, son of Syekh Khaki (Jumadil Qubro), grandson of Prince Blancak Ngilo and great-grandson of King Brawijaya V. Syekh Jumadigeno has two younger siblings, namely Syekh Wasibageno and Panembahan Bodo. Sheikh Jumadigeno and Sheikh Wasibageno then studied under their grandfather, Sheikh Jumadil Qubra, in the Turgo area as well as by their uncle, Sheikh Jimat.
After having enough knowledge, the two of them were assigned to spread Islam in different places. Syekh Wasibageno was assigned to walk eastward to the Dwarawati forest or in the Jatinom area, present-day Klaten, while Sheikh Jumadigeno walked towards a forest -wana- which was clearly visible -malela-- be a wanalela. It was there that Sheikh Jumadigeno cleared away the pedestal using his ontrokusumo and bandil clothes.
The person who first initiated the Saparan Traditional Ceremony, Purwowidodo, Widodomartani Lurah at that time, together with the Hamlet Head of Pondok Wonolelo in 1967. Both of them had the idea of holding the ceremony by first collecting the breeds or descendants of Ki Ageng Wonolelo. After deliberation, it was agreed upon by the community, all descendants were invited. They were asked to collect heirlooms scattered in several places to be put together. The heirlooms were paraded around the village to the grave complex of Ki Ageng Wonolelo. The heirloom is kept in the Tiban house. Ki Ageng Wonolelo's heritage includes:
Spears, Teken (sticks) and Ontrokusumo clothes are stored in Pondok Wonolelo
The handwritten Al-Quran by Ki Ageng Wonolelo is kept by the family in Kalasan
The pieces of Mustaka Masjid wood are kept by the family in Cangkringan
Bandil is kept by his family in Jatinom, Klaten
Kopyah is kept by the family in Umbulmartani
The Saparan Ki Aeg Wanolelo Traditional Ceremony is not only in the form of an heirloom carnival, but also tahlilan and prayers with the breeds. After that, spread the apem cake to the end and around the waega. The ceremony is held at night using a petromax or oil lamp as a light. The atmosphere of the ceremony in ancient times seemed very solemn and mystical, the environment of Pondok Wonolelo, which was still a forest, still seemed "wingit" spooky or scary. When the heirloom carnival took place, there was silence. No one dares to open their wares at the night market. Art performances have been stopped. The visitors fell silent, no one dared to make a sound,
Currently, the ceremony is enlivened by a series of solid events. The opening of the Saparan Traditional Ceremony begins with a grand recitation at the Ki Ageng Wonolelo Mosque. Furthermore, other activities such as; (1) Jatilan; (2) Recitation; (3) Children's art performances; (4) Night market; (5) Dangdut; (6) Mixed cider; (7) Dances; (8) Gymnastics; (9) Mocopat; (10) Srontol; (11) Ketoprak; (12) Prayers; (13) The highlight of the heirloom carnival and the distribution of apem to the community; finally, (14) Wayang kulit. The series of events were held two weeks in a row. The highlight of the event was the heirloom carnival and the distribution of apem which was held on Kliwon Friday.
The components that must be present in this ceremony are apem and offerings. Apem was introduced by Ki Ageng Wonolelo after performing the pilgrimage. Apem cake distribution aims to give advice to the community, if you go anywhere with a feeling of forgiveness then you will not get enemies or problems, you will forgive easily, and you will have many friends.