As a writer who specialises in sex and relationships, I am often asked about the strangest place I have ever had sex. I rarely answer, not because I am bashful but because the intrigue is so much more interesting than the truth which is Richmond Park.
During this centuries-old ritual, couples meet to have sexual intercourse next to a shrine, on the side of a mountain. The mountain in question is Mount Kemukus, located near the village of Solo in Java.
And while it is an unusual spot, it is not the only fascinating aspect of this ancient rite. The Pon Festival involves ritualistic sex between strangers, even if both parties are married to other people. The relationship has all the components of a committed, caring relationship, though it is anything but. Islam here is influenced by other cultures and religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism, giving rise to a festival that is far from devout. For centuries, pilgrims have convened at a shrine called Gunung Kemukus, on the auspicious day of Jumat Pon from which the Festival takes its name.
The pair arrived in Solo only to be caught, mid-coitus, by villagers and killed. Opinion is divided over what happened next: one re-telling states that before he died, Samudro sanctioned adulterous intercourse on Pon Friday.
Whatever the lineage, thousands of pilgrims converge at the site in the belief that illicit sex will bring them good luck. Pilgrims come seeking success for their businesses or for personal gain to pay off debts. Pilgrims then attend the grave of the prince and his star-crossed stepmother to lay flowers and pray again. From here, they must cleanse themselves in one of the sacred springs, and only at this stage do they head off in search of a partner.
