Who's afraid of Nyai Roro Kidul?

CILACAP, Central Java: For the sake of the general election, the local government is risking the wrath of Nyai Roro Kidul, the Queen of the Indian Ocean in Javanese mythology.

The regency government has postponed this year's traditional ritual, that falls on May 20, to an unspecified date after the May 29 election.

"We mean to put security of the general election above all," Cilacap tourism office chief Bambang Imam Santoso told The Jakarta Post Saturday.

The traditional ritual conducted by local fishing families is a major tourist attraction. They offer things like womens clothes, Javanese delicacies, cosmetics and betel vine to Nyai Roro Kidul.

All the offerings are placed in a Javanese miniature house called Joleng before they are dumped into the sea. (wah/pan)