The Labuhan Merapi ritual, a tradition of the Yogyakarta Palace, is not only an annual ceremony but also reflects the local wisdom of the community in preserving the forests surrounding Mount Merapi. Behind the ritual, held every 30th of Rajab, lie ecological values that contribute to vegetation conservation in the Mount Merapi National Park (TNGM).
Based on this premise, a team of students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) participating in the Student Creativity Program for Social Sciences and Humanities Research (PKM-RSH) conducted a study titled “Labuhan Merapi: Analysis of the Ecological Aspects of the Ritual in Forest Conservation Efforts and Its Relevance to Modern Science.”
The team, consisting of Bhara Dewaji (Forestry 2023), Vina Indrawati (Forestry 2024), Yassa Allaya Annas (Forestry 2024), Reina Arkhadia Eka Putri (Vocational College 2024), and Inoora Putri Haliza (Cultural Sciences 2024), examined the relationship between the ritual and forest conservation.
The study employed an ethnoecological approach, field observations, interviews with local elders, and vegetation analysis to explore how local wisdom contributes to forest conservation.
“Labuhan Merapi is not merely a tradition; it carries deep meanings and messages of conservation. There are rules, taboos, myths, and folklore about Eyang Sapu Jagad that shape how the community respects nature, particularly the environment of Merapi. This is what drew our interest to study it,” said Bhara Dewaji, the team leader, on Thursday (Oct. 9).
He further explained that the Labuhan Merapi ritual takes place in the customary zone of the Mount Merapi National Park, spanning from Post 1 Bedengan to Post 2 Srimanganti.
The ritual is not only a spiritual practice but also a community-based conservation effort that has been passed down through generations, maintaining the community’s connection with nature.
Through offerings, the procession of gunungan (symbolic, mountain-shaped offerings), and the planting of teak species, the ritual symbolizes gratitude and a commitment to preserving the Merapi ecosystem.
The Labuhan Merapi ritual has been proven to play a crucial role in maintaining forest sustainability through customary rules, including prohibitions on cutting trees, harvesting plants from the ritual area, and obligations to protect existing vegetation.
Vegetation analysis revealed that several plant species serve dual purposes. They are used in the ritual while also preventing erosion and supporting the ecosystem.
“This research bridges local wisdom and modern science, ensuring that the Labuhan Merapi remains relevant as both a cultural tradition and a practical model for forest conservation,” Dewaji added.
As an initial step toward integrating cultural values into conservation area management strategies, the team presented its research plan to relevant stakeholders.
The presentation was held at the Mount Merapi National Park Office and attended by the Head of TNGM, Heads of SPTN Regions I and II, Coordinators of RPTN within the TNGM area, Coordinators of Program Data and Information, Public Relations, and Cooperation, as well as Coordinators of Environmental Education and Extension, representatives of forest police, and the UGM PKM-RSH Labuhan Merapi research team.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Salma
Photographs: Labuhan Merapi Team