Bizarre religious ritual where married men and women sleep with strangers to get wealth and luck

 

 Indonesia: An eye-popping religious ritual involving sex with strangers on an Indonesian mountain was exposed by a TV documentary. Indonesia is largely a Muslim country and the idea of adultery is strictly taboo. Yet thousands make a pilgrimage to Gunung Kemukus – also known as 'Sex Mountain' – in Central Java to engage in lewd acts with complete unknowns. The mountain-top sex ritual is based on a legend dating back to the 16th century. Pilgrims believe seven visits and prayers to the adulterous
prince Samudro will bring wealth and luck. The local government charges stalls to set up shop on the mountain and pilgrims pay a 5000 rupiah entry fee – around 26p.

With up to 8,000 visitors a night, it's big business for the local economy. SBS video journalist Patrick Abboud will tell the story of the bizarre ritual – which involves married men, housewives, government officials and prostitutes – in a documentary to be screened on Dateline at 9.30pm on SBS ONE. He said: "The story goes pilgrims must copulate on the mountain every 35 days for seven consecutive times and blessings and wealth should come their way. "But for the magic to work and the money to flow, it’s believed their sex partner for the ritual should not be their spouse."