Yogyakarta PSIM Pilgrimage Tradition Welcomes Super League 2025/2026

YOGYAKARTA - PSIM Yogyakarta carries out the pilgrimage tradition to the graves of kings in the Kotagede and Imogiri areas. This tradition is always lived by PSIM ahead of the start of the competition, including in the 2025/26 Super League.

This pilgrimage feels special. The reason is this is the first pilgrimage after the long wait of PSIM for promotion to the highest caste. The pilgrimage was attended by almost all players, including foreign PSIM committees on Monday, July 21, 2025.

Pilgrimage to Kotagede and Imogiri is a routine PSIM agenda. This not only functions to strengthen team togetherness, but is also a medium of reflection and recognition of culture and history around Yogyakarta.

Arriving at the Kotagede tomb complex, the group immediately carried out the Asar prayer first before starting the pilgrimage procession.

After the prayer, the players wore traditional clothes specifically for pilgrimage activities that added sacred nuances in the activity. Raka Cahyana, a player who first participated in this tradition, shared his experience.

"I do have Javanese descent. But it must be admitted this time, I really carry out Javanese culture. I feel very enthusiastic," said Raka.

After changing clothes, the entire team took pictures together, then one by one entered the Kotagede tomb area to make a pilgrimage. The entire procession in the tomb was carried out without documentation, in order to maintain the solemnity and respect the existing traditions.

"It feels very solemn when inside. We are told about the history of the tombs of the kings here, it is quite detailed, such as why the head and body are buried separately, and many other stories," he said.

The activity at the first location was completed at around 17.15 WIB. Before continuing to the graves of the kings of Imogiri, the group stopped for a moment to have dinner in the area near the second location. Then, the PSIM team arrived at the graves of the kings of Imogiri right during the call to Maghrib reverberating.

Self Reflection Event

After completing the Maghrib prayer, the Mataram Laskar team immediately changed clothes and continued the pilgrimage of the graves of the kings. The solemn atmosphere was also felt in Imogiri. One of the young PSIM players from Medan, Ikhsan Chan, revealed about this.

"In Imogiri, it feels the same as the solemn, like when in Kotagede. In fact, maybe here it feels more solemn with a sacred atmosphere that is very supportive," said Ikhsan.

Ikhsan has a similar experience with Raka. He felt a lot of lessons from this pilgrimage. "I so know and learn who the kings are buried here. Then, the story and the habits of his life used to be like what we can example," said Ikhsan.

According to him, this pilgrimage is the main goal of self-reflection about death and practice during life.

Ikhsan said, "From this pilgrimage, it is a reminder for us that everyone will die, so how can we do many deeds during life so that our provision in the future."