Sri Sultan Hamengku Bawono X will celebrate his 80th birthday on April 2, 2026. To mark this occasion, the people of Yogyakarta are organizing a cultural parade called Kirab Mangayubagya. In Javanese, ‘Kirab‘ means cultural parade, while ‘Mangayubagya‘ means celebrating happiness or enlivening something.
Kirab Mangayubagya is a cultural parade held to honor the 80th anniversary of Sri Sultan Hamengku Bawono. The event shows the people’s affection for their king, who has cared for them throughout his reign. The parade also highlights the unity and joyful spirit of Javanese culture as everyone comes together to celebrate.
The parade attracts between 10,000 and 12,000 participants. The event is organized by Lembaga Kemasyarakatan (LKK) in Yogyakarta and involves 438 village districts from across the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Each district presents its local products in a mountain-shaped display and carries them in a procession to the Yogyakarta Sultanate Palace.
Gandang Hardjanta, the leader of Lembaga Kemasyarakatan (LKK), explained that the local goods represent the sincerity and abilities of each village. Each community brings what they have; the coastal villages district might offer coconuts, while others bring different crops. This tradition is a way to show gratitude. A small portion of the proceeds is returned as a sign of respect.
For the past 37 years, his leadership has helped Yogyakarta become a lively tourism city, now better known both nationally and internationally. Thanks to many key achievements, the city’s culture, tourism, economy, and arts remain vibrant.