High in the mountains of Java, Indonesia, worshippers are gathering 7,847 feet above sea level at Mount Bromo for the Yadnya Kasada festival.
The Yadnya Kasada is a month-long celebration of the Tenggerese people, who are descendants of princes of the 13th century Majapahit kingdom. On the festival's fourteenth day, the Tenggerese journey up to Mount Bromo to make offerings of rice, fruits, vegetables and livestock to the mountain gods by throwing them into the volcano's crater.
The festival's origin dates back to 15th century when a princess named Roro Anteng started the principality of Tengger with her husband Joko Seger. According to legend, the childless couple asked the mountain gods for help in bearing children. They were granted 24 children on the condition that the 25th be thrown into Mount Bromo as a sacrifice, so the tradition of hauling sacrifices into the volcano to appease the mountain gods continues today.