Thousands climb Mt. Bromo

Thousands climb Mt. Bromo

PROBOLINGGO, East Java: Thousands of local people and foreign
tourists climbed Mount Bromo to witness the local Tengger
community's Hindu thanksgiving ceremony, which is annually
conducted at the mountain's summit.

Soedjai, an influential figure in the Tengger tribe, said on
Thursday that most visitors came from towns in the province and
that only dozens of foreign tourists came to watch the annual
Hindu ceremony.

"This year, less foreign visitors were expected to witness the
annual religious event possibly due to the negative impact of the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States," he said.

Soejai said the Tengger community conducted on Monday what
local people called Mendak Tirta, a preliminary procession in
observance of the Yadnya Kasada (thanksgiving) ceremony.

"Tengger people have also prepared food, drinks and fruit and
placed them on the mountain's crater as their sacrifice to God",
he said. --Antara