Javanese Ceremony

A guard provides ceremonial protection for rice effigies during a procession prior to their being sacrificed the following day A guard provides ceremonial protection for rice effigies during a procession prior to their being sacrificed the following day

Part of an ongoing project.  This ritual sacrifice of rice effigies takes place annually and is linked to a Javanese legend in which a couple were trapped inside the nearby Mount Gamping, whose spirit demanded an annual sacrifice of a bridal couple in return for the safety of the village and the safe continuation of the limestone quarrying going on at the time.