JAKARTA: Hundreds of locals, artists and government officials flocked to an old house in Sekaralas village in Ngawi, East Java, on Wednesday to attend a 'wedding' between a 63-year-old local and a peri ' a pretty, fragrant, supernatural woman in Javanese mythology.



The wedding party for Kodok Ibnu Sukodok and his supernatural bride named Roro Setyowati was choreographed and presented as an attractive live art event by a locally revered artist, Bramantyo Prijosusilo, who also played host.



Local media was awash with stories and pictures of the ceremony, which neatly followed the Javanese tradition. Of course, everyone present could only see the human bridegroom, while spiritualists claimed the ritual was also attended by Javanese spiritual beings such as the queen of the southern seas, Nyi Roro Kidul, and Sabdo Palon, a 'saint' according to indigenous Javanese spiritualism (Kejawen).



Bramantyo said the wedding was real and sacred, adding that Kodok and Roro Setyowati had decided to tie the knot after first meeting five years ago.



'The wedding could not take place in a conventional way through formal institutions because the bridegroom is human and the bride is a spiritual being,' Bramantyo said as quoted by kompas.com.



Kodok said he met his wife-to-be five years ago in a dream, after a journey through a jungle in Ngawi, a region famous for its high-quality teak. He admitted he had never seen her physically but he could sense her presence by the smell of her fragrance. ' JP

Your premium period will expire in 0 day(s) close x Subscribe to get unlimited access Get 50% off now