Tengger Tribe Residents Hold Mendak Tirta Ritual Ahead Of Yadnya Kasada At Madakaripura Waterfall

PROBOLINGGO - Tenggerese perform the Mendak Tirta ritual (taking holy water) at Madakaripura Waterfall in Negororejo Village, Probolinggo Regency, East Java, ahead of the Yadnya Kasada celebration in 1944 Saka.

The activity was attended by the Acting Regent of Probolinggo Timbul Prihanjoko together with the Chairman of the East Java Provincial DPRD Kusnadi, as well as a number of officials within the Probolinggo Regency Government.

"Holy water taken from four different springs will later be transported to Luhur Poten Temple at the foot of Mount Bromo to be used as a complement to the Yadnya Kasada ceremony," said Head of Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) Probolinggo Regency, Bambang Suprapto, as quoted by Antara, Monday. , June 13.

Madakaripura Waterfall which is believed by the Tenggerese as Hindus as one of the ritual places of Mendak Tirta which is considered sacred and the place is the hermitage of Patih Gajah Mada, an ancestor of the Tenggerese people and known as the ruler of the archipelago in the era of the Majapahit Kingdom.

A group of Tengger Tribe residents in Sukapura District, Probolinggo Regency flocked directly to the point for taking holy water at the Madakaripura waterfall after getting off the vehicle.

"Several offerings of agricultural products were brought to offer prayers at the sacred place of the Madakaripura waterfall with the intention of asking Shang Hyang Widiwasa for permission to take holy water at that location," he said.

In addition to Madakaripura as a place for taking holy water in the Probolinggo Regency area, there are four other locations for taking holy water: Watu Klosot springs in Senduro District, Lumajang Regency, then Widodaren springs in Pasuruan Regency, Rondo Kuning springs in Lumajang Regency and Arjuno Springs in Malang Regency.

Meanwhile, the Acting Regent of Probolinggo Timbul Prihanjoko explained that the people in his area who adhere to various religions have established cooperation and harmony, and jointly built Probolinggo Regency.

"We will continue to maintain cooperation for the interests and welfare of the people of Probolinggo Regency," he said.

The chairman of the East Java DPRD, Kusnadi, expressed his deep gratitude to the people of Probolinggo Regency who still care for the cultural wealth.

"The next young generations will continue to care for and maintain the existing cultural wealth properly. Gajah Mada in his promise seeks to unite the archipelago which became the forerunner of the birth of Indonesia," he said.