Kasada Festival - Mount Bromo

The photographer, Paul Williams on the summit of Mt Batok which overlooks the active volcano of Mount Bromo.

A chicken is thrown into the crater of Mt Bromo - an offering to the volcano god. The catchers eagerly await.

A chicken is thrown into the crater of Mt Bromo - an offering to the volcano god. The catchers eagerly await.

A chicken is thrown into the crater of Mt Bromo - an offering to the volcano god. The catchers eagerly await.

A 'catcher' picks up a chicken, considered to be a blessing from the volcano god.

At the summit of Mt Bromo a Tengger man prepares his offering of a chicken before throwing it into the volcano.

Some people known as 'catchers' risk their lives by climbing onto the steep inner slope of the crater. Armed with nets they run and jump to try and catch the offerings before they reach the choking heart of the volcano - the belief is that each item they catch is a blessing from the god.

Tengger people pray to the god of the volcano before throwing their offering into Mount Bromo's smoking crater.

Some people known as 'catchers' risk their lives by climbing onto the steep inner slope of the crater. Armed with nets they run and jump to try and catch the offerings before they reach the choking heart of the volcano - the belief is that each item they catch is a blessing from the god.

Some people known as 'catchers' risk their lives by climbing onto the steep inner slope of the crater. Armed with nets they run and jump to try and catch the offerings before they reach the choking heart of the volcano - the belief is that each item they catch is a blessing from the god.

Some people known as 'catchers' risk their lives by climbing onto the steep inner slope of the crater. Armed with nets they run and jump to try and catch the offerings before they reach the choking heart of the volcano - the belief is that each item they catch is a blessing from the god.

Vegetables, money, chickens and even goats are offered, but fortunately today live animals are symbolic and are safely passed from above to a catcher waiting in the crater below.

Some people known as 'catchers' risk their lives by climbing onto the steep inner slope of the crater. Armed with nets they run and jump to try and catch the offerings before they reach the choking heart of the volcano - the belief is that each item they catch is a blessing from the god.

The summit of Mt Bromo is crowded on Yadnya Kasada as thousands of people gather to make their offerings to the volcano god. The smoke from the crater can sometimes be overwhelming.

The summit of Mt Bromo is crowded on Yadnya Kasada as thousands of people gather to make their offerings to the volcano god. The smoke from the crater can sometimes be overwhelming.

Tengger people gather on the Sea of Sand to celebrate Yadnya Kasada festival before climbing Mt Bromo to make an offering to the volcano god.

Some people known as 'catchers' risk their lives by climbing onto the steep inner slope of the crater. Armed with nets they run and jump to try and catch the offerings before they reach the choking heart of the volcano - the belief is that each item they catch is a blessing from the god.

Some people known as 'catchers' risk their lives by climbing onto the steep inner slope of the crater. Armed with nets they run and jump to try and catch the offerings before they reach the choking heart of the volcano - the belief is that each item they catch is a blessing from the god.

Some people known as 'catchers' risk their lives by climbing onto the steep inner slope of the crater. Armed with nets they run and jump to try and catch the offerings before they reach the choking heart of the volcano - the belief is that each item they catch is a blessing from the god.

Every year the Tenggerese people who live in the villages around Mount Bromo gather to pay tribute to the god of the volcano in a festival known as Yadnya Kasada. They carry offerings up the volcano to throw into the crater. Some people however chose to risk their lives and climb onto the steep inner slope of the crater with nets. They run and jump to try and catch the offerings before they reach the choking heart of the volcano. The belief is that each item they catch is a blessing from the god of the volcano. This young man had covered his face to protect his identity from those throwing the offerings and to reduce the impact from the toxic volcanic gasses. #BBC #EarthOnLocation #Bromo #Kasada #Festival #Indonesia #Volcano #Offering #Java

Some people known as 'catchers' risk their lives by climbing onto the steep inner slope of the crater. Armed with nets they run and jump to try and catch the offerings before they reach the choking heart of the volcano - the belief is that each item they catch is a blessing from the god.

Some people known as 'catchers' risk their lives by climbing onto the steep inner slope of the crater. Armed with nets they run and jump to try and catch the offerings before they reach the choking heart of the volcano - the belief is that each item they catch is a blessing from the god.