200acters Follow The Vesak Blessing Procession In Jumprit

A number of monks took Vesak's blessed water in Umbul Jumprit, Tegalrejo Village, Ngadirejo District, Temanggung Regency, Saturday (3/6/2023). ANTARA/Heru Suyitno

TEMANGGUNG - Around 200 monks participated in the blessing water collection procession in Umbul Jumprit, Tegalrejo Village, Ngadirejo, Temanggung Regency, Central Java, for the celebration of Tri Suci Waisak2023 at Borobudur Temple, Magelang Regency.

Chairman II of the DPD Representative for Indonesian Buddhists (Walubi) Central Java Tanto Harsono said the monks were not only from Indonesia, but also from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Canada.

Blessing water collection in Umbul Jumprit was carried out by representatives of Sangha monks, while others joined the puja bakti with Buddhists.

In the ritual, the monks took blessed water from Jumprit totaling 20 jugs. Previously, the committee had taken 10,000 bottles of water.

He explained that water and fire are dominant in everyday life.

The holy fire of Waisak was taken from the source of the natural fire of Mrapen, Grobogan Regency, Central Java, Friday (2/6), then buried in Mendut Temple, about three kilometers east of Borobudur Temple, Magelang Regency.

At the peak of Waisak2023, Sunday (4/6), the holy water and fire were paraded by monks and Buddhists from the Mendut Temple to the Borobudur Temple.

"By taking water as a symbol of calm and defamation. Most of our bodies are water," he said.

Director of Buddhist Religious Affairs and Education of the Director General of Buddhist Guidance at the Ministry of Religion Nyoman Suriadarma said that the collection of blessed water is one of the traditions that has been going on for a long time by Buddhists in celebrating Vesak.

According to him, water is one of the natural elements that symbolizes humility, because its nature flows to a lower place.

In addition, he said, water as a symbol of clarity is one of the means for Buddhists to do puja.

The blessed water from Umbul Jumprit was then sale in the Candi of Mendut, among others, marked by the reading of parity by monks and Buddhists from various Sangha.