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Traditional ritual reflects the harmony of different faiths
The annual Tengger tribal ritual Yadnya Kasada, held at the base of Mt
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he annual Tengger tribal ritual Yadnya Kasada, held at the base of Mt. Bromo in Probolinggo, East Java, during the Ramadan fasting month, is a symbol of harmony and tolerance between people of different faiths living in the area.
The sound of the Islamic morning call for shubuh prayer from a nearby mosque started the day on Sunday, while the Hindu Yadnya Kasada peak ritual was being held at the Pura Luhur Poten Temple by the Tengger tribal group living on the base of Mt. Bromo and Mt. Semeru.
After performing the prayer, Achmad Zaini, 35, and other Muslim members of the tribe went up the Mt. Bromo peak together with Christian and Hindu members of the Tengger community to throw offerings as part of the Kasada procession.
"Although we are now mualaf *converted Muslims* we continue to celebrate the Kasada rituals as do other members of the tribe who have converted to Christianity. Many Muslims here throw offerings of chickens, goats or flowers into Mt. Bromo's crater," Zaini said.
The legend says that throwing offerings into the volcano's crater commemorates Dewa Kusuma, the son of Rara Anteng and Jaka Seger, the first descendents of the Tengger tribe, who were sacrificed to the spirits of Mt. Bromo.
For the Tengger shamans, the ritual is a sign of respect to the sacrifice of their ancestors, and also an offering of praise to the Gods in the hope of blessings for fertility and sanctuary.
Sutomo, a Gedog village elder, is part of the first generation of Tenggers that converted to Islam in the 1950s.
"It *Islam* entered the region thanks to the influence of some political parties," he said.
In 1948, he added, his father Imam Supii joined the Syarikat Islam Party as an activist until 1962. Although a supporter of the religion, he said, his father himself did not convert to Islam.
Sutomo himself joined an Islamic youth organization in 1962 although at that time he still embraced Hinduism.
"Many ulemas came to Tengger from 1948 onwards, but I myself only converted to Islam in 1971. Ever since, more and more Tengger residents have converted to Islam, both for individual reasons and for marriage," Sutomo said.
Data from the Argosari administration office shows that 1,380 out of the subdistrict population of 3,468 are Muslims.
Argosari subdistrict head Martiam said the conversion of many Tengger people to Islam had not created negative sentiment among other members of the tribe who still embraced Hinduism.
"Whatever religion members of the community embrace, we believe that we are still the people of Tengger who have the responsibility of preserving the legacy of our ancestors. That accounts for why we embrace different religions, but can still work together to cultivate the fields and build mosques in mutual cooperation," Martiam said.
During Idul Fitri, the celebration marking the end of Ramadan, accordingly, many of the non-Muslim members of the community also visit Muslim families, and vice versa. When Hindu people celebrate Karo and Yadnya Kasada, Muslims also celebrate so.
Jember cultural scholar, Ayu Sutarto, who once lived for a while in Tengger, said the Tengger community are a friendly and open people. "Although they have a stronghold on their tradition, they are very tolerant of difference. There has never been any sectarian conflict there or community exile toward anyone that converts to another religion," Ayu said.
