Mount Bromo, together with mount
Tegger and Mount Semeru, is one of the most beautiful place of interest in east
java. Watching the sun rises from the crest of Mount Bromo is a very exiting
experience for the tourists coming to this mountain. The reach the area, which is
about 2392 m above sea level, people usually take a bus or a car as far as the
village of Ngadisari from there, a Pony ride will take tourists to the rim of
the mountain. It is an active volcano, and the people from surrounding areas
bring various as a sacrifice to the fire god, Betoro Bromo. The legend goes as
follows:
Hundreds of years ago, during
reign of the last king Mjapahit, Brawijaya, one of the king’s wives gave bird
to a girls, who was named Roro Anteng. Later this young Princess married Joko
Seger, who came from a Brahman caste. Because of an unfortunate situation the
couple was forced to leave the kingdom. They settled down in the mountain area.
They ruled thae are and named it “Tengger,” which was derived from the couple’s
names: Roro Anteng and Joko Seger.
After several years the region
flourished in prosperity, but Roro Anteng and Joko Seger were unhappy because
they did not have a child. Frustrated, they climbed the top of the mountain and
prayed night and day hoping that the gods would listen. The prayer was heard
and Betoro Bromo promised them many children. However, the couple had to promise
that they would sacrifice youngest child in return.
Roro anteng gave birth to a
child, then another, and another. In the end Roro Anteng and Joko Seger got 25
children. Soon it was time for them to sacrifice the youngest child, Kusuma,
but the parents just couldn’t do it. They tried to hide the child, but an
eruption happened and Kusuma fell into crater. There was silence before they
heard a voice: “I have to be sacrificed so that you will all stay alive. From now
on, you should arrange an annual offering ceremony on the 14th of Kesedo
(the twelfth month of Teggerese calendar).” It was Kuduma’s voice.
Kusuma’s brothers and sisters
held the offering ceremony every year. Instead of a human being, these people
collected fruit, vegetables, rice and meat to be offered to the gods. And this
has been done generation after generation until today.
Taken From:
A Guide Book for Tourism: East Java
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