Thousands of Hindu worshipers scaled an active Indonesian volcano on Monday to throw cattle, food and other offerings into its smoking crater in a centuries-old religious ceremony.
Devotees swarmed the thin rim around Mount Bromo’s basin, goats, chickens and vegetables slung on their backs up to the dusty peak as part of the Yadnya Kasada festival.
Every year, members of the Tengger tribe from the surrounding highlands gather on top of the volcano, famous for its breathtaking sunrise views, hoping to please their gods and bring luck to the Tenggerese, an indigenous group in the east Java.
Slamet, a 40-year-old farmer who, like many Indonesians, goes by only one name, brought a baby cow as an offering.
“We have a lot of cows at home and this can be considered excess so we are bringing it here… to give it back to God,” he told AFP.
Members of the Tengger ethnic subgroup ascend the active volcano Mount Bromo to present offerings to their gods.
Worshipers present offerings of rice, fruits, cattle and other items as part of the Yadnya Kasada festival.
Villagers use nets to catch offerings thrown by members of the Tengger ethnic subgroup into the crater of the active volcano Mount Bromo.
‘This is also an act of gratitude to God for giving us prosperity… We give it back to God so that we can come back here next year.’
The calf was lucky and was given to a villager after Slamet’s prayers instead of being sacrificed to the volcanic cauldron.
Some villagers not belonging to the Tengger tribe took to the steep slopes of the crater equipped with nets in an attempt to intercept the offerings thrown into the chasm and prevent them from going to waste.
Farmer Joko Priyanto brought some of his own produce in the form of cabbages and carrots to throw into the steaming void.
“I hope to receive a reward from Almighty God,” the 36-year-old said.
Monday’s ritual marked the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that authorities allowed tourists into the site after the festival was limited to the faithful last year.
The event has its roots in the 15th-century folklore of the Majapahit kingdom, a Javanese Hindu-Buddhist empire that stretched across Southeast Asia.
Legend has it that Princess Roro Anteng and her husband, unable to have children after years of marriage, begged the gods for help.
An aerial image shows members of the Tengger sub-ethnic group gathering to present offerings at the rim of the crater.
Animal and crop offerings are part of the Yadnya Kasada festival in Probolinggo
A villager uses a net to catch a bird thrown by members of the Tengger sub-ethnic group into the volcano’s crater.
Thousands of Hindu worshipers scale the active Indonesian volcano to throw cattle, food and other offerings into its smoking crater.
As part of the centuries-old religious ceremony, villagers use nets to catch offerings thrown by members of the Tengger ethnic subgroup.
Devotees hoist goats, chickens, and vegetables slung from their backs by the dusty peak
As part of the Yadnya Kasada festival, worshipers climbed the active volcano Mount Bromo.
Members of the Tengger sub-ethnic group gather to present offerings at the crater rim of active Mount Bromo.
A goat is dragged down the mountain to be thrown into the volcano’s crater as part of the festivities.
Their prayers were answered when they were promised 25 children, provided they agreed to sacrifice their youngest son by throwing him down Mount Bromo.
It is said that his son willingly jumped into the volcano to ensure the prosperity of the Tengger people.
For trader Rohim, who traveled from a nearby Java city on Monday to throw potatoes, leeks and cash into the lava, it was an opportunity to pray for good luck. He said his luck had improved after previous visits.
“Business has been better than before, that’s why I came here,” said the 32-year-old.
“I hope my business can improve so I can come back next year.”
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