INDONESIA, December 20, 2015 (Jakarta Coconuts): Mount Bromo is on the verge of a huge eruption after weeks of coughing volcanic ash about 10,000 feet into the sky – but locals say they won’t leave until their Hindu priest tell them to [Hinduism in Java dates back to the 8th century ce]. Located in the Tengger massif in East Java, the Bromo volcano began erupting in early December with satellite imagery recording plumes of ash rising to an altitude of 2 miles and drifting as far as 40 miles.
Reports suggest airports in the vicinity are likely to be affected if eruptions continue, with Surabaya’s Juanda Airport III, a main tourism hub, likely to be affected over the holiday period.But for the local Tengger tribe who live in surrounding hillside villages, they won’t leave until their Hindu priest Manku tells them to.
One National Park Guard named Suyano, who has worked in the shadow of Bromo for 25 years said, “Manku told us the Bromo gods will cough for six months, they will then erupt very big.” The Tenggerese people, who number about 90,000 in 30 hillside villages, worship Mount Bromo and believe they can communicate with the mountain gods through Manku. The spiritual connection the Tenggerese have with Bromo dates back to a 15th century.