Kasada Ceremony: Tenggerese Thanksgiving

Bromo has a remarkable natural panorama. It will never run out of our admiration by the beautiful natural scenery. Mount Bromo derived from Sanskrit, meaning god Brahma, or a major, Mount Bromo is a mountain that is still active and the object of the most famous tourism in East Java. Bromo mountain has a height 2400 meters above sea level.

In addition Tenggerese also has appeal because of their remarkable is clinging to the customs and culture that guide his life. Tenggerese supposedly are the descendants of Roro Anteng (daughter of the King of Majapahit) and Joko Seger (son of Brahmana).

Since the time of Majapahit was said that they inhabited areas are sacred places, because they are considered servants of Majapahit Kingdom. Until now, they still adhered to Hindu religion, the Tengger people annually yadnya KASADA ceremony. The ceremony is located in a temple which is under the foot of Mount Bromo. And after that proceed to the top of Mount Bromo. Ceremony performed at midnight until the early hours every full moon in the month of Javanese calendar according Kasodo.

Origin legends KASADA Ceremony

According to the story, the origin of the ceremony occurred KASADA few centuries ago. In Brawijaya Dynasty reign of Majapahit Kingdom. The empress was blessed with a daughter named Roro anteng, after the late princess had grown a young couple from brahma caste named Joko Seger.

At the time of Majapahit into decline and simultaneously began the spread of Islam in Java, some mandarins and some relatives decided to move to the east, and partially towards the Tengger Mountains region including Rara anteng couples and Jaka Seger.

Couple Rara anteng and Jaka Seger build settlements and then ruled the region called the Tengger Purbowasesa kurat Ing Tengger, meaning "Lord of the Tengger Budiman". The name is taken from the final perch syllables anteng Rara name and Jaka Seger.

The word also means tenggering perched nobility or high moral recognition, symbol of eternal peace. From time to time the Tengger people prosperous and peaceful life, but the authorities did not feel happy, because after a while the couple and Jake Rara Tengger anteng berumahtangga not also blessed with offspring. Then was decided to ascend to the top of Mount Bromo to meditate with full faith in the Almighty so blessed with offspring.

Suddenly there are voices saying that magic meditation, they will be granted but on condition that when you've got offspring, the youngest child to be sacrificed to the crater of Mount Bromo. Couple Roro and Jaka Seger anteng menyanggupinya and then acquired 25 sons and daughters, but the instincts of parents still can not bear losing her son and daughter. Short Rara couples and Jaka Seger anteng broken a promise, God became angry with threatening to inflict evil, then there becomes a state tempests dark crater of Mount Bromo flames.

Kesuma youngest son disappeared from sight and fire licked into the crater Bromo, the same loss of voice Kesuma Unseen: "Dearly beloved, I have been sacrificed by our parents and Hyang Widi save you all. Live a peaceful and serene, Hyang Widi worship. I remind you that you each month KASADA on the 14th day of the offerings made to Hyang Widi in the crater of Mount Bromo ".

This habit hereditary followed by Tengger people and each year a ceremony was held at the potential KASADA ocean of sand and crater of Mount Bromo.

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Horrible Fire Battle for Welcoming Nyepi Day

The ritual fires of war is a Hindu tradition in Mataram since 1838 was held in Jalan Selaparang, Cakranegara, which is the location of the battle between the Kingdom Singosari and the Kingdom of Karang Asem.

The ritual activities conducted after the procession ogoh-ogoh (giant dolls with frightening form) that involved hundreds of residents from two banjar (environmental) in the East of District Cakranegara, namely Banjar Negara Sakah and Banjar Sweta.

Residents from each banjar attacked each other with a lit fire on Bobok (leaves, dried coconut is already tied to form a broom). Prior to attack each other action, the first public figures to check that bobok will be used by people to attack other people.

Attack each other process occurs after the community leaders of each banjar agreed to start a war. Residents from both banjar seen a swing with a violent burning dried coconut leaves at his opponent's body. After the battle lasted for about 15 minutes finally both agreed to stop the war banjar and return to their homes in a peaceful atmosphere with no hard feelings between them.

According to Nyoman East Village Chief Vishnu Cakranegara flame war is not just the form of a celebration of Nyepi. However, a deeper meaning is to cleanse the earth from all this evil that occurred.

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Ogoh-ogoh Parade : Representation of the Evil Spirit Destroying

Ogoh-ogoh parade is the highlight of the procession of preparation before Nyepi. Ogoh-ogoh are statues built for the Ngrupuk parade, which takes place on the eve of Nyepi day in Bali, Indonesia. Ogoh-ogoh normally have form of mythological beings, mostly demons. As with many creative endeavours based on Balinese Hinduism, the creation of Ogoh-ogoh represents spiritual aims inspired by Hindu philosophy.

The main purpose of the making of Ogoh-ogoh is the purification of the natural environment of any spiritual pollutants emitted from the activities of living beings (especially humans). The forms of Ogoh-ogoh represent the Bhuta-Kala (Bhuta: eternal energy, Kala: eternal time), according to Hindu teachings. The imperceptible potentials of nature cannot be thoroughly explored by anyone. Philosophically, civilized men are required to manage the natural resources without any attempts to damage the environment itself.

Aside from being the symbol of Bhuta-Kala, Ogoh-ogoh is considered a symbol of modes of nature that form the malicious characters of living beings. Ogoh-ogoh is usually made by the group of artists found in villages around Bali. After being paraded on a convoy around the town, finally it is burnt to ashes in a cemetery as a symbol of self-purification.

An Ogoh-ogoh is normally standing on a pad built of timber planks and bamboos. This pad is purposed to sustain the Ogoh-ogoh itself during its being lifted and carried around the village or the town's square. There are normally eight or more men carrying the Ogoh-ogoh on their shoulders. This procession is accompanied by music orchestra performed by the youth. The use of flares is also a main part of the parade.

During the procession, the Ogoh-ogoh is rotated counter clockwise three times. This act is done on every t-junction and roadcross of the village. Rotating the effigies during cremational parade and the eve of Nyepi represents the contact of the bodies with the spirits. It is aimed to bewilder the evil spirits so that they go away and cease harming human beings.

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