Why is a cigarette offered to Ganesh Ji at Indonesia's Mount Bromo?

An unusual sight at an active Indonesian volcano has sparked curiosity among Indian travellers. A cigarette being offered to the idol of Lord Ganesha is not an image most India Hindu devotees would associate with temple worship. Yet, at Mount Bromo in Indonesia’s East Java province, such an offering is considered normal. The place is known for its distinctive religious traditions of the Tenggerese people, the Hindu community that lives around this volcanic region.Let’s find out more about this:A Ganesha idol beside an active volcanoMount Bromo is one of Indonesia’s best-known natural attractions, drawing visitors with its vast volcanic caldera, and dramatic sunrise views. Located within Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, the active volcano rises above a vast expanse of volcanic sand popularly known as the Sea of Sand.Bromo is a sacred landscape for the Tenggerese community, whose religious traditions have roots in the Hindu kingdoms of Java.