Indonesia 2011

Volcano: Bromo, Tengger, Sidoarjo

  August 2011

 M.Rietze, M.Szeglat, C.Weber, Th. Boeckel, R.Roscoe
in deutsch

  Cinema 

Vulkan Batu Tara und Anak Krakatau im August 2011, Boeckel Vulkan Batu Tara und Anak Krakatau im August 2011, Boeckel

KASADA PROCESSION AT BROMO VOLCANO

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel   Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel     Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

In March 2011 the volcano Bromo was highly activ, now the all-year old Kasada celebration take place. The Kasada festival is an Hindoo procession, which starts at the round of the entire Tengger caldera. The last station is the approaching road to the volcanic temple at Bromo.

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

The procession was announced for midnight but began much later, around 2:30 clock. If you fought yourself through the dense fog down at the caldera you will be fascinated of the unique religious customs and relics at the temple.

Legend of Mount Bromo

There is legend related to Mount Bromo and the region of Tengger. According to this legend, there was a 15th century princess named Roro Anteng from Majapahit who started a principality with her husband Joko Seger. They named the principality Tengger, an amalgam of the last syllable of both their names. Being childless for many years, the royal couple made a trip up Mount Bromo to seek the help of the mountain gods in granting them a child. The gods agreed to their request, telling them that they would have 25 children, but demanded that they sacrifice their final child. Together, the couple had 24 children. When the last and final child was born, Roro Anteng refused to sacrifice it. The mountain gods sent fire and pumice until she finally relented. After the child was thrown into the crater of the volcano, his voice was heard asking that an annual ceremony be performed to appease the gods. The ceremony was still being performed to this day. It takes place on the 14th day of the full moon Kesodo

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

After some homage speeches, which are dedicated to the volcano god of Bromo, high solemnly the crater edge of  the volcano was climbed with torches, flambeaus and twisted palm handles.

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

Here is also marked that experienced procession professionals can get lost in the dense fog. Of course I followed  the erring runner group.

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel   

But if you arise out ot from the dense nebula layer to the dawn light, beside the impressive mysteriously masked volcanic landscape the solemn esprit of this meeting get offereed to you. At the crater edge closely pushed rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers, money, cigarettes and livestock are sacrificed to the mountain gods.

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel    Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

 Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel     Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

But the oblations were actually none in the usual sense. In the crater a crowd of approximately 50 people already were waiting for the oblations. Impressing, when behind them the steaming depth of the volcanic vent appears. With nets and other catching aids they tried to catch the big hunks. It seemed to me that  poultry was most popular.

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel     Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel     Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel   Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel   Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

Embossed, the volcanos Bromo and Batok arise in the Tengger-caldera. A special impression develops, if the fog stands in the caldera. Here we scurried the half night around. The Semeru in the background without ash cloud does not belong to the Tengger caldera.

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel   Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel   Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

Kasada procession volcano Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

SEMERU  VULKAN

Semeru Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel      Semeru Bromo Tengger, by Boeckel

The next volcano target was the southeast lain impressive volcano Semeru. But one night for a nearly not perceptible ash cloud was briefly said a flop . Because of the weak activity even an ascent would not have been worthwhile. However the Semeru had inserted a well-known longer break. Nevertheless to admire the perfect shape of the ca. 3700m high volcano, a visit is  always worthwhile. But I am confident that I will get this volcano still actively in future.

MUD VOLCANO SIDOARJO

         

              August 28, 2004                        November 11, 2008                         October 20, 2009          

by NASA ASTER satellite

The next part of the journey leads us after East Java. Beginning in Surabaya, I was real astonished in the city of Sidoarjo twenty kilometers south, when to the left of the overcrowded motorway a two-stage dam of for instance 15m emerged. As a beginner in this area I asked myself which sense this impressive building could have.  Now I remebmbered to the world-famous mud volcano Sidoarjo from 2006, when the whole area disappeared under a thick mud cover .

Mud volcano Sidoarjo 2011, by Boeckel   Mud volcano Sidoarjo 2011, by Boeckel   Mud volcano Sidoarjo 2011, by Boeckel

Whether the drilling after oil on 29th of May 2006 causes this mud blow volcanio is disputed. Another possible theory says, that a the earthquake of the strength 6.3 in Yogyakarta on the 27th of Mai 2006 causes tectonic changes of the depth layers. The mud, which shot up to 50 meters, reached temperatures in average of 100 °C. Besides different gases, methane and hydrogen sulfide became free. The eruption, which persists so far, formed meanwhile a crater of 60 meters of diameters and an ejection hill of fifteen meters height. Due to this dimensions, researchers assume that the volcano will spit much mud until the year 2037 and they can do nothing against this.

Mud volcano Sidoarjo 2011, by Boeckel   Mud volcano Sidoarjo 2011, by Boeckel   Mud volcano Sidoarjo 2011, by Boeckel

The mud outbreak had extensive consequences for the population. Until Decembers 2006  over 13.000 humans had to be evacuated from the region. The mud flooded a plain of for instance 7km ² (datas from June 2008), roads, fields and destroyed whole villages. Meanwhile about 30,000 resident in 12 villages became homeless.

You want to see the active Bromo?

Click to the tour in spring 2011

back

Krakatau 2011, by Th.Boeckel Kawa Ijen 2011, by Th.Boeckel Bromo 2011, by Th.Boeckel
Batu Tara   Krakatau   Kawah-Ijen    Bromo

   ALPE by M.Rietze    VEI by Chris Weber     vulkane.net    by R.Roscoe

 

 Etna    Stromboli    Volcano world    Counter Cinema

From Etna to Stromboli     Planets & Space

© 2011, Photos und Text Thorsten Boeckel(TB), last modification 16.09.2011