Thursday 9 August 2012

The Legend of Bromo Mountain




Long time ago, there lived a princess in Majapahit kingdom called Roro Anteng. Majapahit was a kingdom in East Java. Roro Anteng married by Joko Seger, who came from a other kingdom. Because of an unfortunate situation the couple was forced to leave the kingdom. They settled down in the mountain area. They ruled the area and named it “Tengger”, which was derived from the couples’ names: Roro Anteng and Joko Seger.

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 Bromo promised them many children. However, the couple had to promise that they would sacrifice their 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, Kesuma, but the parents just could not do it. They tried to hide the child, but an eruption happened and Kesuma fell into the 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 Kesodo (the twelfth month of Tenggerese calender.”It was Kesuma’s voice.

Kesuma’s brothers and sisters held the offering ceremony every year. And this has been done generation after generation until today.

Comments
0 Comments

No comments: