Mount Bromo, located in East Java, Indonesia, is not only a popular tourist destination but also a significant spiritual site for the Tenggerese Hindu community. The Kasada Ritual Ceremony, held annually at Mount Bromo, is a deeply rooted tradition that reflects the rich cultural and religious heritage of the local people.
The Tenggerese people are descendants of the Majapahit Empire, a powerful Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that ruled much of Southeast Asia in the 13th to 16th centuries. As the empire declined, some followers fled to the highlands of East Java, including the area around Mount Bromo, to preserve their beliefs and practices. Today, the Tenggerese community continues to uphold these ancient traditions, blending them with their unique cultural identity.
What is the Kasada Ritual Ceremony at Mount Bromo?
The Kasada Ritual Ceremony, also known as Yadnya Kasada, is a significant annual event celebrated by the Tenggerese people, who live around Mount Bromo in East Java, Indonesia. This ceremony takes place on the 14th day of the Kasada month in the traditional Hindu lunar calendar.
The Kasada Ritual is a way for the Tenggerese community to give thanks and ask for blessings from their gods. During the ceremony, participants make offerings of crops, livestock, and other valuables, which they throw into the crater of Mount Bromo. These offerings include vegetables, fruits, rice, flowers, and even animals like chickens or goats.
People participating in the ritual wear traditional Tenggerese clothing and climb to the summit of the volcano. Throwing the offerings into the smoking crater is a symbolic act of gratitude and devotion. It is believed that these offerings will bring prosperity and protection to their community.
Pura Luhur Poten
Pura Luhur Poten, a significant Hindu temple, is located at the base of Mount Bromo. This temple serves as the spiritual center for the Tenggerese people and plays a crucial role in the annual Kasada Ritual Ceremony. The temple is constructed from natural black stones from the nearby volcano, a feature that distinguishes it from other Hindu temples in Indonesia, which are typically made from red bricks.
Before the offerings are made, participants gather at Pura Luhur Poten to perform prayers and receive blessings. The ceremony begins at the temple, where the community congregates and prepares the offerings. This process includes prayers led by a shaman or ordained elders, who invoke blessings for prosperity and protection. The ceremony then moves from the temple to the crater of Mount Bromo, where the offerings are thrown into the volcano. This act is a continuation of an ancient tradition stemming from a legend involving the ancestors of the Tenggerese people, who were instructed by the gods to make such sacrifices.
Kasada Ritual Ceremony 2024
The Kasada Ritual Ceremony at Mount Bromo in 2024 will lead to a temporary closure of the area to tourists. This decision follows letters from the heads of Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) in Pasuruan and Probolinggo, emphasizing the need to create a conducive environment for the sacred ritual. From June 21-22, the area will be accessible only to those participating in the Yadnya Kasada ritual, provided they carry appropriate identification. On June 23-24, the site will be open solely to officials tasked with cleaning the area. The head of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, Hendro Widjanarko, stated that this closure aims to provide a comfortable space for the religious ceremonies and to allow for ecosystem recovery potentially disrupted by tourism activities.
