Yaqowiyu is a traditional Javanese religious festival held in Jatinom,Klaten Regency,Central Java. The festival is held everySapar of theJavanese calendar, and is often calledSaparan.
During Yaqowiyu, a traditional cake calledapem which is round snack made of rice flour is distributed, and thousands of people fight for the cake. Thousands of apems will be distributed from a platform established in themosque located in the funeral complex of Ki Ageng Gribig.[1]
Traditional belief tells that apem will bring fortune for people who succeed in getting it.[2] The festival is a prominent example ofadat which is a syncretism between Islamic belief and vernacular customary traditions.
Yaqowiyu was first introduced byKi Ageng Gribig, who is believed to be the descendant ofBrawijaya, after his return from thehajji pilgrimage inMecca.[2] The name Yaqowiyu comes from the part of the Arabicdua (supplication prayer),yaa qowiyyu, yaa aziz, qowwina wal muslimiin, yaa qowiyyu warzuqna wal muslimiin which is believed to be the dua for power.[3]
