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.