At the peak of mountainous area in Cisolok Sub-Regency, Sukabumi Regency, furthest end of West Java Province in Indonesia, live some traditional Sundanese natives. They are divided to some small kingdom called "Kasepuhan." On of those "Kasepuhan" is "Kasepuhan Ciptamulya" or The Elders of Ciptamulya.

Once in each year, these little kingdoms perform a ceremonial harvest festival as a way to appreciate the gift and blessing from The Almighty. This harvest festival called "Seren Taun" in Sundanese language, means Presents of The Year. In this ceremonial festival, the king and his family held an open house event and meets face to face with all the citizens of the "Kasepuhan."

The festival usually running in odd continuous days, 3 days, 5 days, or 7 days. During the time, there are many activities being shown to the public. Almost all of traditional art and performances presented to all the people within the kingdom area. Main stage usually takes place near "Bale Ageung" or the biggest house, the traditional wooden house of the king.

From dances to puppet shows, from acrobatic to martial art shows, all presented to the public as their expression of joy. The whole ceremony will be closed with a ritual of storing their main harvest, rice, into traditional barn called "Leuit." Rice stored inside the "Leuit" can not be sell or trade, their only purpose is for feeding the citizen. Uniquely, all the rice fields within the kingdom boundaries only owned by the king and his family. There's no common citizen have land possession. They are working to tend the rice field as a communal group.

Everyone is welcome to attend all the series of this ritual and ceremony, but all must wearing traditional head wrap called "Iket," as a symbol that during those days, every guest considered as family member. People that are coming to ritual and ceremonial area without this dress code, will be considered as a person without respect and honor. (blacxarea)