Access To Mount Bromo Tourism Limited During The Holy Ritual Of Wulan Kapitu

Mount Bromo tourist attraction (ANTARA/HO-Diskominfo Probolinggo Regency)

JAKARTA - Tourism activities in the Mount Bromo area, East Java, will be limited during the holy ritual of Wulan Kapitu, a traditional tradition of the Tengger Tribe which will take place from December 2024 to January 2025.

The Wulan Kapitu peak ritual starts on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 18.00 WIB, until Monday, December 30, 2024 at 18.00 WIB.

"The closure of tourist areas in Kaldera Tengger will be enforced during this period to maintain ritual service," said Bambang Suprapto, Secretary of Paruman Dukun Pandita Tengger, in a written statement received at Probolinggo, as quoted by ANTARA.

According to Bambang, Wulan Kapitu is the seventh month in the Javanese calendar and is considered a holy month for the Tengger community. This ritual full of spiritual values is a means to get closer to God through a series of traditional activities.

As part of the ritual, access to motorized vehicles in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) area will be closed, except for emergency situations. Tourist areas such as the Pasir Sea, Savana, and Mentigen will be sterile from motor vehicle activities during the ritual.

"We carried out Tapabrata at the beginning and end of the month of Wulan Kapitu, including the muster fasting, which requires a calm atmosphere. Therefore, motorized vehicles are not allowed to pass through the area," explained Bambang.

The mutiah fast, which is the core of this tradition, is carried out by arrears in consuming sugar, salt, and foods that arouse the earth's lust. This ritual aims to increase the spirituality of the Tengger community as well as maintain harmony with nature.

The Tengger tribe is known as a traditional guard who is closely related to Mount Bromo, a polluted mountain and believed to be the embodiment of Dewa Brahma.

The TNBTS Center also supports the implementation of Wulan Kapitu by closing access to motorized vehicles on several entrances to Kaldera Tengger, such as from the direction of Probolinggo, Pasuruan, Malang, and Lumajang, starting December 29, 2024 at 15.00 WIB until December 30, 2024 at 23.59 WIB.

However, tourists can still visit other destinations such as Ranu Regulo, which is not affected by this closure policy. The Kaldera Tengger area itself will reopen on December 31, 2024 at 00.01 WIB, providing opportunities for tourists to enjoy the turn of the year in a calm and sacred atmosphere.

The closure of tourist access will also be re-imposed on Monday, January 27, 2025 at 18.00 WIB until Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 18.00 WIB, in honor of the peak closing ritual of Wulan Kapitu.

Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha, Head of the TNBTS Center, appealed to the public, tourists, and tourism business actors to comply with the policy in order to support the preservation of local traditions.

"We hope that all parties can support this effort as a step to maintain the local wisdom of the Tengger community," he said.

Wulan Kapitu is not only part of a cultural heritage that preserves customs, but also reflects the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. Tourists are expected to respect this tradition as a form of appreciation for Indonesia's cultural wealth.