.jpg)
Kasada Bromo ceremony
Photo and Text by: Barry Kusuma
Photo and Text by: Barry Kusuma
Bromo has very exotic and beautiful view that will never bored us even after coming for several times. The word “Bromo“ orginated from Sansekertaneese of “Brahma”, which 
has the meaning of “God among God”. Mount Bromo is currently active and is one of the most famous tourism site in East Java. Mount Bromo has 2.400 meter in height above the sea level.
We can enjoy the vast savanna in a natural mountain environment along with a mountain of sand and bushes. The most interesting view is when the sunrises between the fog in the mountain’s peak, Pananjakan, creates a beautiful and mystical atmosphere. To be able to reach it, we could rent a Hardtop vehicle which we can find near the motel. Or, if you want to enjoy the view, you can take a walk through a narrow road to Pananjakan. An experienced guide are highly recommended before you decide to go.
Beside the view, they are native tribe; the Tengger tribe. They are currently hold on to their ancient believe as they way of life. In the year of 1990 the Tengger have a population of 50,000 people. They live at the peak of Mount Semeru and near Kaldera. They were very honored by local villagers because of their way of life. They live their life in honesty and modesty. Legends said the Tengger tribe is the descendant of Roro Anteng (princess of Majapahit King) and Joko Seger (son of Brahmana, the Indian God). Their daily conversation uses an ancient Java dialect which has no stratum unlike common Java languages where every stratum has a slightly different usage of words.
Since the Majapahit Kingdom era, their living ground was held sacret because they were considered as devoted people from the palace.
The Tengger tribe held a ceremony known as Yadnya Kasada annually. This ceremony located at a temple right in the dip of mount Bromo, as they continue to the peak. The ceremony took place in the middle of the night, exactly when the full moon is at peak, on the month of Kasodo according to Javanese calendar.
The temple where they held the Kasada ceremony is called Pura Luhur Poten. Unlike other common Hindu believers who has a Candi—a very big temple—as their praying ground, the Poten temple is more like a block of sandy space. The origin of Kasada ceremony started out centuries in the past..jpg)
“In the times of Brawijaya dynasty from the Kingdom of Majapahit, the Queen was giving birth to a beautiful girl named Roro Anteng. After entering her maturity, the princess fell in love with a man from Brahmana Caste named Joko Seger. When the kingdom entered its declining period due to the growth of Islam religion in Java island, some of the loyal and royal families decided to move to the eastern side. Most of them entered Tengger mountain area, including Roro Anteng dan Joko Seger. After a period of time ruling the area, they still didn’t have any successor. All efforts had been made, but still none of them succeeded. They finally decided to go to the peak of Mount Bromo to meditate. At the time they heard a magical voice telling them to sacrifice their last born son in to the crater of Mount Bromo if they wanted to have children. And then they were given 25 kids. By the time to sacrifice the youngest son, they felt unease and compassion. And so they didn’t do the sacrifice. Their decision has made the God angry and literally licked their youngest son in to the crater. The youngest son told his parents and siblings to live their life to the fullest. And so every year, a sacrifice was thrown in to the crater”. The tradition continues until this very day.
If we wanted to see the ceremony, we would have to come eary before midnight. At that time, all the shaman will be busy preparing the ceremony. The day of the ceremony is a very crowded day. People from many places gathered here to see it for themselves. They do whatever it takes to be able to make it there. The road to the temple usually overload with cars and motor cycles, making it quite hard before reaching final destination. There is an alternative way to get there. It’s by foot, thus you can’t go alone due to the thickness of the fog. You have to join the native villagers so you can reach the temple safely.
The Kasada Bromo ceremony was also used for coronating the village’s shaman or medicineman from all nearby villages. Those whom are to be coronate must first memorise certain enchanting. Couple of days before the ceremony took place, they must prepare their offerings. In the 14th night of Kasada month, the people of Tengger brings their offerings in an ongkek (somekind of container) consists of various farm and cattle harvest. And then they wait at the temple for the elder shaman to come and start the enchanting. When the time comes, approximately at midnight, the shaman coronation in the middle of Bromo’s sea of sand begins. For the people of Tengger, the role of the shaman is very important. Their job is to lead ceremonial activities as well as weddings. Before they “graduated” they must truly memorise the enchanting and can perform them well enough.
After the ritual finished, all of the ongkek is brought to the edge of the crater, and then thrown inside as a symbol of sacrificedone by their elder. They threw some of their harvest as an appreciation and expression of gratitude to God. Inside the crater, there are a lot of beggars and tengger people who lived in the deeper area of Tengger. They come from far away places and built a place to stay many days before the ritual. They hoped to be able to acquire leftover from the offerings thrown inside the crater. Activities from Tengger villagers who lived in the deeper area can be seen during the ceremonial day of Kasada Bromo.
has the meaning of “God among God”. Mount Bromo is currently active and is one of the most famous tourism site in East Java. Mount Bromo has 2.400 meter in height above the sea level.We can enjoy the vast savanna in a natural mountain environment along with a mountain of sand and bushes. The most interesting view is when the sunrises between the fog in the mountain’s peak, Pananjakan, creates a beautiful and mystical atmosphere. To be able to reach it, we could rent a Hardtop vehicle which we can find near the motel. Or, if you want to enjoy the view, you can take a walk through a narrow road to Pananjakan. An experienced guide are highly recommended before you decide to go.
Since the Majapahit Kingdom era, their living ground was held sacret because they were considered as devoted people from the palace.
The Tengger tribe held a ceremony known as Yadnya Kasada annually. This ceremony located at a temple right in the dip of mount Bromo, as they continue to the peak. The ceremony took place in the middle of the night, exactly when the full moon is at peak, on the month of Kasodo according to Javanese calendar.
The temple where they held the Kasada ceremony is called Pura Luhur Poten. Unlike other common Hindu believers who has a Candi—a very big temple—as their praying ground, the Poten temple is more like a block of sandy space. The origin of Kasada ceremony started out centuries in the past.
.jpg)
“In the times of Brawijaya dynasty from the Kingdom of Majapahit, the Queen was giving birth to a beautiful girl named Roro Anteng. After entering her maturity, the princess fell in love with a man from Brahmana Caste named Joko Seger. When the kingdom entered its declining period due to the growth of Islam religion in Java island, some of the loyal and royal families decided to move to the eastern side. Most of them entered Tengger mountain area, including Roro Anteng dan Joko Seger. After a period of time ruling the area, they still didn’t have any successor. All efforts had been made, but still none of them succeeded. They finally decided to go to the peak of Mount Bromo to meditate. At the time they heard a magical voice telling them to sacrifice their last born son in to the crater of Mount Bromo if they wanted to have children. And then they were given 25 kids. By the time to sacrifice the youngest son, they felt unease and compassion. And so they didn’t do the sacrifice. Their decision has made the God angry and literally licked their youngest son in to the crater. The youngest son told his parents and siblings to live their life to the fullest. And so every year, a sacrifice was thrown in to the crater”. The tradition continues until this very day.
If we wanted to see the ceremony, we would have to come eary before midnight. At that time, all the shaman will be busy preparing the ceremony. The day of the ceremony is a very crowded day. People from many places gathered here to see it for themselves. They do whatever it takes to be able to make it there. The road to the temple usually overload with cars and motor cycles, making it quite hard before reaching final destination. There is an alternative way to get there. It’s by foot, thus you can’t go alone due to the thickness of the fog. You have to join the native villagers so you can reach the temple safely.
The Kasada Bromo ceremony was also used for coronating the village’s shaman or medicineman from all nearby villages. Those whom are to be coronate must first memorise certain enchanting. Couple of days before the ceremony took place, they must prepare their offerings. In the 14th night of Kasada month, the people of Tengger brings their offerings in an ongkek (somekind of container) consists of various farm and cattle harvest. And then they wait at the temple for the elder shaman to come and start the enchanting. When the time comes, approximately at midnight, the shaman coronation in the middle of Bromo’s sea of sand begins. For the people of Tengger, the role of the shaman is very important. Their job is to lead ceremonial activities as well as weddings. Before they “graduated” they must truly memorise the enchanting and can perform them well enough.
After the ritual finished, all of the ongkek is brought to the edge of the crater, and then thrown inside as a symbol of sacrificedone by their elder. They threw some of their harvest as an appreciation and expression of gratitude to God. Inside the crater, there are a lot of beggars and tengger people who lived in the deeper area of Tengger. They come from far away places and built a place to stay many days before the ritual. They hoped to be able to acquire leftover from the offerings thrown inside the crater. Activities from Tengger villagers who lived in the deeper area can be seen during the ceremonial day of Kasada Bromo.
Photo & Text by Barry Kusuma
Add FB : http://www.facebook.com/barrykusuma
.jpg){kind=link}
2 comments:
I went there few weeks ago... Wonderful and magic scenary. Bromo was still active so I shot (I'm photographer) some good pics from the eruption.
Good reportage you've made here !
Lovely just what I was searching for.Thanks to the author for taking his time on this one.
Post a Comment