The term "11 sep 1996 weton apa" is an interrogative phrase from Indonesian, translating to "What is the weton for September 11, 1996?". The core of this query is the noun "weton," a central concept in Javanese culture that refers to a specific day designation within the Javanese calendar system. A weton is determined by the confluence of two distinct day cycles: the seven-day week (saptawara) from the Gregorian/Islamic calendar and the indigenous five-day Javanese market week (pancawara). For the date September 11, 1996, the weton is Rabu Legi.
The determination of a weton involves identifying the specific day from each of the two cycles. The saptawara cycle consists of days equivalent to the standard week: Minggu (Sunday), Senin (Monday), Selasa (Tuesday), Rabu (Wednesday), Kamis (Thursday), Jumat (Friday), and Sabtu (Saturday). The pancawara cycle, also known as pasaran, consists of five market days: Legi, Pahing, Pon, Wage, and Kliwon. For September 11, 1996, the corresponding day in the seven-day cycle was Wednesday (Rabu), and in the five-day cycle, it was Legi. Combining these two yields the weton Rabu Legi. Furthermore, each day in both cycles is assigned a numerical value known as neptu. For Rabu Legi, the neptu is calculated by summing the value of Rabu (7) and Legi (5), resulting in a total neptu of 12.
In the context of Javanese divination, known as Primbon, the weton and its associated neptu value are of paramount importance. This information is not merely calendrical but is used to interpret an individual's character, predict their fortune, determine compatibility with a potential spouse, and select auspicious dates for significant life events such as marriage, starting a business, or building a house. The specific combination of the day and its market day, along with the total neptu value (in this case, 12), provides the foundational data for these complex divinatory calculations and cultural practices.
