A view of the Suro month festivities at the Keraton Surakarta

The preparations on the eve of 1 Suro before the kirab pusaka at the Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat

The sesajen and wilujengan in the Bangsal Maligi, the porch before the Sasana Sewaka, main pendopo of the Keraton Surakarta

A view from the southern porch of Sasana Handrawina towards the Bangsal Maligi, the wafts of smoke from the incense and ratus can be seen

A view from the front of the Bangsal Maligi looking towards the inner court

The entourage and bearers of the pusaka with their umbrellas of state, songsong and the censer for incense lighted and ready

The senior princes and courtiers lined up in the Sasana Parasdya, the peringgitan area of the court

Part of the entourage passing through the Srimanganti Lor gate which leads out of the pelataran of the court

A view of the Sasana Mulya

A view of the magnificent joglo of the Mangkurat model with a three-tiered roof reserved for the nobility as the main pendopo of the Sasana Mulya

The previous seat of the crown prince during the 19th century within the Keraton Surakarta complex 

Detail of the usuk ksatria pinayungan, like rays of the sun emanating from the centre

A view inwards where the peringgitan can also be seen

A view of the main emperan doors leading into the dalem ageng

A frontal view of the ndalem ageng of the Sasana Mulya built in the early 1800s

The sacred Krobongan can be seen together with ceramic mosaic portraits of Pangeran Hangabehi who was crowned as PB XI and his permaisuri RAj Koes Pariah, GKR Pakubuwana XI.

A view from the eastern side of the joglo within the dalem ageng

A mosaic portait of the elderly PB VIII (reigned 1858 - 1861)  found on the eastern side wall

A series of old picture cards of the wayang wong genre sent from Surakarta to the International Exhibition in Amsterdam, ca. 1883.

All images copyright and courtesy of the Photography Gallery, National Gallery of Australia.

Gatot-Kaca with the diagnostic star on his breast-plate

A scene of a wirengan dance portraying the Bugis

A scene of Irawan, the son of the noble Janaka and Gatot-Kaca wrestling with a member of the Kurawa clan

Bumo-Narokosuro, a son of Kresno with Werkudoro

A character portraying Sumbradra with Anilo, the dancer with the monkey mask