Tengger in Indonesia

The Tengger have only been reported in Indonesia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Tengger people group lives around Mount Bromo in East Java. They live in portions of four regencies, namely Pasuruan, Probolinggo, Lumajang and Malang. The Tengger adhere to Hinduism. According to legend, they are the direct descendents of the Majapahit Empire. The name Tengger comes from a combination of the two names of the founders of the people group: Joko Seger and Roro Anteng. "Teng" comes from 'An-teng' and "ger" comes from 'Se-ger'. The Tengger dialect of Javanese is thought to come from the old Kawi variety of Javanese. Some evidence of this includes the pronouns 'reang' (I – masculine) and 'esun' (I – feminine). In addition, words that end in 'a' in Old Kawi Javanese are also pronounced with word-final 'a' in Tengger Javanese, whereas in modern Javanese the convention is to pronounce these words with word-final 'o'.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Tengger community lives in a cool mountainous region (with average temperatures of 40-50 degree Fahreinheit at night). The fertility of the land makes it ideal for planting vegetables. As a result, about 80% of the Tengger people work as farmers. Although some Tengger have become quite successful farmers, About half work as hired workers earning about 20,000-50,000 rupiah (US$2.50 - 5.50) per day. The most common crops grown in the Tengger region are potatoes, cabbage and onions. The Tengger area is a tourist destination. All year long local and foreign tourists visit this area to witness the beautiful sunrise over the panoramic view from Mount Bromo as well as experience life in Tengger and the strong local commitment to traditional customs. As a result, many Tengger people also work in the tourism industry as hotel workers, tour guides, etc. Because the Tengger work as farmers and regularly give a warm welcome to tourists, they are considered simple and open. Even their local language, Tengger Javanese, expresses simplicity in that it does not employ the complicated system of politeness levels that are generally found in Javanese dialects.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Tengger area has long been considered a holy place, ever since the Majapahit era. Since that time the inhabitants have been regarded as worshippers of Sang Hyang Widi Wasa (a Hindu deity). To this day, the Tengger community follows a Hindu tradition stretching back to the Majapahit Empire. There are strong similarities between the Hinduism in Bali and the Tengger variety; both are called Hindu Dharma. However, the Tengger variety does not have a caste system and the Tengger people's traditions are based on those originating from the Majapahit era. For the Tengger, Mount Bromo (Brahma) is believed to be a holy mountain. Every year the Tengger hold a ritual known as Kasada. This event is held in the temple at the foot of the Mount Bromo crater. In the middle of the night on the full moon of the 10th Javanese month (Kasodo), adherents bring offerings and throw them into the smoking and still active crater.


What Are Their Needs?

Most Tengger only have a junior high school education. Although those who are more well-off are able to send their children to the city for studies, opportunities for education in the area are still lacking.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to thrust out loving and committed workers to the Tengger people.
Pray for disciples to make more disciples and plant churches.
Pray for a desire for spiritual truth that will drive them to the cross and the empty grave.


Scripture Prayers for the Tengger in Indonesia.


References

IPN, 2011 Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tengger
People Name in Country Tengger
Alternate Names
Population this Country 93,000
Population all Countries 93,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 15341
ROP3 Code 109949
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Jawa Timur Province, south of Pasuran regency, near Mount Bromo.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Jawa Timur Province, south of Pasuran regency, near Mount Bromo..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Tengger in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.57 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
95.00 %
Islam
4.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tengger (93,000 speakers)
Language Code tes   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tengger (93,000 speakers)
Language Code tes   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tengger
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Anonymous  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024