IT was late at night last week when a group of young women left the Surakarta Palace of the House of Hadiningrat. They had just finished rehearsing the Bedoyo Ketawang, the palaces sacred dance. If everything goes as planned, these dancers will perform in a procession held for the coronation of Sultan Paku Buwono XIII, slated to take place on Tuesday this week.

The coronation of GKPH Hangabehi as Paku Buwono XIII has been well prepared. The dance