tengger culture

Culture & hiking in Mt. Bromo's vicinity

Have a day and a night with a local Tengger family, to hike the day afterwards trough an ancient lava river. Mt. Bromo and Tengger people seem to have lived together forever. A special way to spend at least two days and a night in an outstanding environment with inspiring people.
Kasada Ceremony

Every 14th of the 10th month of the Javanese calendar, the Kasada Ceremony is performed. Normally that is July or August. Then the Tenggerese show their gratitude for all the blessings they received.
Old & new temples

Luhur Poten temple

On the sand plain that surround Mt. Bromo sits a Hindu temple, named Luhur Poten. The temple is very important to the Tenggerese that live in the mountain villages near Mt. Bromo, among which are Cemara Lawang, Wonokitri, Ngadas, and Ranu Pane. The temple is important in the annual Yadnya Kasada ceremony which lasts for about one month.
Pura Luhur Poten is constructed of natural black stones from volcanoes, while the Balinese temples are mostly made from red bricks. Inside Luhur Poten one can find several buildings and enclosures aligned in a mandala zone composition.

Jago temple

The Jago temple was built between 1275 and 1300. It is believed that it is the burial place of the ashes of King Wisnuwardhana, the fourth king of the Singosari kingdom. The temple has similar ornament as the Penataran temple in Blitar regency.
Candi Jago sits on your way to Mt. Bromo in the village Tumpang, just about 20 km east of Malang.

Candi Singosari

According to some sources, this construction is the funerary temple of King Kertanagara who ruled between 1268 and 1292. Kertanagara was the last king of the Singhasari dynasty. He was assassinated in 1292 which finally led to the establishment of Majapahit rule.
Two gigantic statues nearby - called Dwarapala - are believed to be the guards of "the palace". Singosari temple is constructed out of red bricks. Its relief describes the greatness of the Singosari Kingdom.
You can find this temple in Singosari village, just north of Malang.

Sumberawan

Candi Badut

Kidal temple
Poten temple

The Poten Temple sits in the Sea of Sand and was build in the year 2000. The temple holds a significant importance to the Tenggerese. Via this temple the god Brohmo (Brahma) is worshiped, who is a manifestation of Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa. The temple consists in several constructions laid out over three areas; Padma, Mandala Madya and Mandala Nista. In general all temples are facing west, so is this temple, entering the temple from the east. Praying and worshiping is done in the eastward direction, there where the sun rises.

Differences with Balinese temples

The major difference between this temple and Balinese ones are the type of stones and building materials. For the Poten temple natural black stones from volcanoes nearby were used, while Balinese temples are mostly made from red bricks.

The temple organises the annual Yadnya Kasada ceremony. On the 14th day, the Tenggerese get together at the Poten temple to ask for blessings from Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa and the God of Mahameru (Mount Semeru).