Launching Prambanan Shiva Festival: The Month Of Shiva For Spiritual, Peace, And Harmony 'Building Peace And Harmony From The Archipelago Civilization Center For The World'

JAKARTA - Prambanan Temple has again become a center of attention, both in terms of spirituality, education, tourism, the environment, social, and Indonesian culture, through the launch of the 'Prambanan Shiva Festival: The Month of Shiva for Spiritual, Peace, and Harmony,' this holy 9th century heritage area is again pulsating as a Hindu spiritual living space that spreads messages of peace and universal harmony.

The launching of Prambanan Shiva Festival marks the start of a series of spiritual activities for a full month in the Prambanan area. This includes mass yoga, meditation, cultural seminars, spiritual arts performances, to the peak of the celebration of Maha Sivarati Celebration which invites the people and the wider community to reflect on the sacred value of Dewa Siwa as the highest source of energy awareness.

Prambanan's Head of the Working Team, I Nyoman Ariawan, explained that the Prambanan Shiva Festival is a form of spiritual revival in the midst of a faster and better modern life. "We want to revive Prambanan as a spiritual space that unites humans with spiritual awareness. This festival is a sacred offering for Siwa, a symbol of awareness and balance, which is also a call to spread peaceful vibrations for the universe," said Ariawan in a written statement received by VOI.

Ariawan also added that the series of Prambanan Shiva Festival activities included Shivaratri, Shiva Temple Run, Spiritual Tour, Spiritual Painting Exhibition, Archipelago Cultural Parade, and its peak, Mahasivaratri Night, sacred night of worship to Dewa Siwa with sea, dhyana, and puja together in the temple courtyard.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Daily Executive of Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) Pusat, I Ketut Budiasa, emphasized the universal meaning of the teachings of Siwa which became the basis of this festival. This is the essence of Hindu spirituality that is relevant to world peace," he said.

From a religious perspective, the Director of Religious Affairs of the Directorate General of Hindu Guidance at the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia, I Gusti Made Sunartha, assessed that this activity is in line with the spirit of religious moderation. "Prambanan Shiva Festival is a tangible form of religious moderation. It combines religious, cultural, and educational values in a peaceful dialogue space. This is how we show that Hindu spirituality plays an important role in building social harmony," explained Duija.

Assistant Deputy for National Events of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism, Ni Komang Ayu Astiti, also emphasized that Prambanan Shiva Festival is one of the attractions of national and international tourism. This event can be a tourist attraction to increase the movement of Indonesian tourists and foreign tourists, especially cultural tourism," he explained

Meanwhile, the Director of Commercial InJourney Destination Management Gistang Richard Panutur hopes that the Prambanan Shiva Festival momentum can feature Prambanan Temple as a spiritual-based economic center, where sacred rituals and tourism activities go hand in hand. Meanwhile, Hindus are ready to make Prambanan a gateway for the economic revival of the people based on spiritual and cultural values.

"We must move together so that tourism has character through the Prambanan Shiva Festival moment not only oriented to spiritual development, but also includes active involvement with the local environment and culture. We are committed to creating tourism that is able to provide meaningful experiences for tourists and sustainable benefits for society and the environment," he explained.

With the theme The Month of Shiva for Spiritual, Peace, and Harmony, this festival invites the public to re-install the noble values of Siwa self-control, and unification with the universe. Starting with Saka Yoga, Prambanan is back to life as a symbol of timeless eternal peace. (ADV)