By Jeong Ji-su
A “sex mountain” is luring Indonesian Muslims to seek good fortune there, a documentary on Australia’s SBS channel reports.
Thousands of pilgrims journey to Gunung Kemukus, otherwise known as the ‘sex mountain,’ in search of wealth and good fortune.
The ritual comes from a myth that pilgrims will get blessings and wealth if they have sexual intercourse with someone other than their spouse seven times during their 35 days at the mountain.
Pilgrims including married men, housewives, government officials and prostitutes take part in a mass ritual of adultery and sex. A local professor estimates that half the women are prostitutes.
With up to 8,000 pilgrims arriving at peak times and a cover charge of 5,000 rupiah ($0.40), business is booming, with local officials and religious leaders making plenty of money.