Ponorogo The Reog City

Ponorogo is one of the regencies in East Java, Indonesia. Ponorogo Regency is located about 800 km on the east of Jakarta. The distance of Ponorogo regency to the capital of East Java province (Surabaya) is about 200 km. This distance could reached by bus during 5 hours. While, from Jakarta be 18 hours by bus and 8 - 10 hours by train. From Solo, the city of Central Java could be 3 hours through Wonogiri or 4 hours through Madiun using land transportation either bus or train. Usually Madiun becomes the post of transit when the traveller travelled by the train. In the meantime, when they want to travel by aircraft they could take the route to Surabaya, Jogja or Solo then continue by bus. 

Reog is a traditional dance that become the main identity for Ponorogo regency. Because of this, Ponorogo is also known as Reog city. This theatre has been known wide in Indonesian even foreign tourists. Ponorogo is also has been known as 'kota santri' (city of students) because has many traditional and modern Pondok Pesantren (Islamic Boarding School). One of the famous boarding school in Ponorogo is Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor which located in Gontor village, Mlarak subdistrict. Darussalam Gontor islamic boarding school established on 1926 with 17 branches widespread in many cities in Indonesia with tens of thousand domestic and foreign students. There are many Indonesia's public figure who graduated from Gontor such as Hidayat Nur Wahid, Muhammad Maftuh Basyuni, Din Syamsuddin, KH Hasyim Muzadi, Emha Ainun Najib, Abu Bakar Baasyir, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Nurcholis Madjid and many more. 

    

Ponorogo organize the biggest cultural event  every year named Grebeg Suro. Grebeg Suro held on certain occasion of welcomed Islamic New Year or Saka New Year that often known as one suro (1 Muharram). People of Ponorogo doing some cultural agenda in this date like 'lek-lekan' (people doesn't sleep a whole night and stodged in Ponorogo town city square). There are also 'larungan' agenda in Ngebel lake. The parade that consist of the musical procession and two giant rice cone called "Buceng Agung" and "Buceng Purak" corteged by a number of indigenous leaders around the lake Ngebel. Grebeg Suro involves many traditional events such as the National Reog Festival, the Heritage carnival and the Larungan proceedings of prayer.  

   

Ponorogo, East Java has a unique traditional dance called REOG PONOROGO. Reog National Festival is held every years along the anniversary of Ponorogo regency and Grebeg Suro celebration. This National Festival followed by hundred participants who come from Ponorogo regency itself, another city in Indonesia also international participant. Reog dance is also staged full moon nightly in paseban, Ponorogo Town Square. Reog told about the struggle for a prince who will propose to Kediri princess named Dewi Ragil Kuning. This dance is staged about 25 - 40 dancers and the musician. The interesting of Reog is his main leading figure named Singo Barong. The dancer of Singo Barong bear the mask about 30 - 40 kg weight and supported by the strength of their teeth. The other leading figure in Reog include Kelono Sewandono, Bujang Anom, Jatil and Warok. This traditional dance has its own history and the dancer must be special person who able to presents it.  The visitors can enjoy this original traditional dance only in Ponorogo, East Java - Indonesia. 

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