Fearless Indonesian People Living Near The Erupting Volcano Bromo

A series of images of the photographer Rarindra Prakarsa tells about the life of the Indonesian people Tenger, who lives and works in the vicinity of Bromo volcano erupting, often risking their lives.

This active volcano is a very popular place, and all because it is fairly easy to look into the crater, because it is very low – 2,392 meters above sea level. Plus views of the surrounding mountains are fascinating! Bromo shows constant activity of the past 20 years, a major eruption was in 2011. Generally, Bromo is located in the National Park Bromo Tengger Semeru, which includes also the highest volcano on the island of Java – Semeru (3676 m). The easiest access to the park – from the village Cemoro Lawang (Chemoro Lawang), it is on the edge of the caldera.

Tenger Caldera is located in the National Park Bromo-Semeru-Tenger, in the center of East Java. Bromo volcano – one of the massive peaks of the caldera, but it is easy to learn, because almost all the top was demolished eruptions from the crater and continue to escape clouds of white smoke. Inside the caldera, also called Laut Pasir (“Sea of Sand”), is a zone area of 10 square meters km, covered with white fine volcanic ash. Compared with the abundance of emerald green valleys around this huge ashen desert produces an eerie impression.

Representatives of Buddhist ethnic group Tenger who inhabit the highlands of East Java, are going on the fourteenth day of the month Kasada in the crater of an active volcano, throwing to the annual sacrifice in the form of rice, fruit, vegetables, flowers, livestock and other local products, asking for the blessing of the supreme deity Hyang Widi Vaza. According to the legend, the ceremony has its roots in the days of the Majapahit kingdom in the reign of King Bravidzhayi. The queen gave birth to a daughter – Raru Anteng, who is married to a young Brahmin named Jaka Seger. They ran out of Majapahit to the east and established a new kingdom. It flourished, but the king and queen were unhappy because they had no children. They decided to climb to the top of Mount Bromo and pray for help. Touched by their prayers, the gods have assured them that the children they are born, but required to sacrifice a younger child. They were forced to give up the child in the crater of a volcano. Then the king commanded his family every year to spend on the slopes of the sacrifice ceremony.

Besides the traditional simple ascent to Bromo, many experienced trackers started up in all serious – namely, to conquer the volcano Semeru, the highest point of Java. This task will require good physical training and three days, but the rewards are unforgettable experiences from the category of “for life.” For its implementation need to get from Surabaya to Malang bus, and from there to the village Tumpang (Tumpang), where you can rent a jeep and climb it to the lake Ranu Pani, from which starts the actual ascent. If not enough money, and health to spare, you can get from Tumpang to the village Gubuk Klakah.

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