The Tengger people living in Probolinggo, Lumajang, Pasuruan and Malang regencies in East Java celebrated on Saturday the Yadnya Kasada, a ritual based on an ancient legend from the Majapahit kingdom to honor the Hindu gods.

The event is held annually on the 14th day of the Kasada month based on the Hindu Saka calendar, which marks this year as 1940.

As part of the ritual, the region’s Tengger people threw offerings into the crater of the majestic Mount Bromo in Probolinggo at dawn on Saturday.

Supayadi, a 45-year old dukun (shaman) in Wonokitri, a village in the Bromo zone, said no new shamans were selected in the ritual this year, which was why the prayer ceremony did not take as long.

Every year for the Yadnya Kasada ritual, the ethnic Tengger community, as descendants of Majapahit princess Roro Anteng and her consort Joko Seger, is required to make offerings of food and livestock at Mt. Bromo as an expression of gratitude for the security and welfare bestowed by the gods.

“As required by tradition, the offerings are sacrificed after the ritual prayer ceremony at Pura Agung [Grand Hall] by throwing engkek sesaji [offerings] carried by village figures early in the morning or after sunrise as a symbol of [virtue],” Supayadi said.

“Some Tengger people make their offerings a day before the ritual, which is permissible, but for me, [the ritual’s] true meaning is diminished.”

This year, the auspicious occasion was part of the 2018 Bromo Exotica cultural show.

Bromo Exotica executive committee chairman Heri Lentho Prasetyo said the event also featured Bale Ganjur traditional music from Probolinggo, jaranan slining (horse dance) from Lumajang, reog (mask dance) from Ponorogo, jaranan tengger (bamboo horse parade), sendratari kidung tengger (theatrical dance) by Jatiswara Group and nyawiji (unity) poetry readings.

Opening act: A dancer begins the Yadnya Kasada ritual with a brief performance. 

Don’t look down: A member of the Tengger tribe prays over the crater of Mount Bromo.

Give thanks: The Tengger people of East Java pray on Mount Bromo as part of the Yadnya Kasada ritual to show their gratitude to the gods.

Bonding time: Supandi (right), a local shaman, attends the Yadnya Kasada with his family.

Ancient ceremony: A dance group performs the Reog dance, better known as the mask dance, during the Yadnya Kasada ritual.

— Photos by JP/Aman Rochman