“Everything has its Philosophy Here”

By Luna Pujianto *
The oldest Mosque of Pontianak and the Makam of Kings were built on one line to the Keraton Qadriah, the Palace of the Pontianak Sultanate, in 1771, as told by an elder man working as a tourist guide at the Keraton. While sitting on his throne the Sultan always has both buildings in sight, so that he always remembers Allah and death, so he says.
The elder man works voluntarily at the Keraton Qadriah to keep it in shape, as it is not inhabited by the current Sultan anymore. When Kampoeng English Poernama together with the two interns from Germany came to visit, he was ready to explain every picture, every artefact and knows the meaning behind even the décor of the palace. “Everything has its philosophy here”, he explained, pointing out to the door decorations which refer to the Arabic alphabet. “The people here still believe in the sacral. It is one of the reasons why the keraton still feels so alive.” Though not all visitors could understand his explanations as they come from all over the world, everyone is indeed able to feel the aura inside the palace. After the visit people may leave a donation for the elder man, as he is not paid by the government. A visit to the Keraton Qadriah is worth not only the physical experience, but also the stories behind this oldest building in Pontianak. (internships programe in teraju.id from Hamburg University)