Chronology of the Missing Ganesha Statue from the Rim of Mount Bromo Crater

Kapanlagi.com - The Ganesha statue, which has a diameter of about 50 cm and a height of 50 cm, disappeared from its place on the rim of Mount Bromo crater. The statue should have been located about 50 meters to the left of the stairs leading to the Bromo crater rim.

The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (BB TNBTS) has released a chronology of the missing statue. The statue disappeared from its position on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, after local authorities received a report from the surrounding community at around 05:30 AM.

"The Resort Management of the National Park (RPTN) in the Tengger Laut Pasir area followed up on the report, immediately coordinated with the Head of Ngadisari Village, Romo Dukun Tengger, and representatives from the Friends of the Mountain Forum (FSG), and then sent a report to the Sukapura Police Sector (Polsek), Probolinggo District," said Septi Eka Wardhani, Head of the Administrative Division of BB TNBTS in her written statement quoted on Sunday (21/5).

1. Possibility of Falling

Next, around 1:00 PM WIB, the Sukapura Police Station, Probolinggo Regional Police led by the Head of Criminal Investigation conducted a crime scene investigation. At that time, the cause of the disappearance of the Ganesha statue could not be concluded, between the possibility of it falling towards the Bromo crater or being taken by irresponsible individuals.

On Thursday, May 18, 2023, coordination was carried out with the Head of Ngadisari Village and related parties as well as security in the Bromo crater area. The result of the coordination at that time was an appeal for the community not to be provoked by the disappearance of the statue.

"The Ganesha statue is only a tool, the community requests and worships not to the statue, but to the Creator of Nature. Ganesha is a symbol of knowledge in the form of a human with an elephant head. Elephants are synonymous with greatness and strength, if our knowledge is great, then we will be strong in facing everything," he explained.

2. Will Make Statue Installation

The disappearance of the statue is only physical, but non-physically, great and extensive knowledge has already attached. So that the Tengger community is not easily shaken when facing something bad and self-introspection.

In addition, the coordination results decided that the Tengger community plans to make and install the Ganesha statue again before the Yadnya Kasada celebration in 2023. The Probolinggo Regional Police conducted another crime scene investigation on Friday, May 19, 2023. The results of the investigation will be conveyed by the Probolinggo Regional Police.

3. Discovery of Evidence

The missing Ganesha statue was installed in 2012 by the Ngadisari Village community. Sunaryono, who is now the Head of Ngadisari Village, also helped install it at that time. The statue is made of cast cement.

As a follow-up effort, the area around the Bromo crater was closed. Meanwhile, the results of the crime scene investigation on May 19, 2023, by the Probolinggo Police Chief, found evidence in the form of a tied knot on the statue's binding cloth. In addition, sand fragments were also found which reinforced the indication that the statue fell into the Bromo mountain crater.

"We appeal to the community and visitors to preserve the environment and culture in the TNBTS area by not committing acts of vandalism, respecting worship and cultural facilities, and not littering in the area," he explained.

(kpl/dar/dyn)