Borobudur Will Be Made A Center For Spiritualism And Culture

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon. (ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Culture)

JAKARTA - Borobudur tourism is projected to become a center of world spirituality and culture, as well as the main destination for Buddhist pilgrimages globally. This plan was confirmed in a series of Vesak celebrations that took place in the Borobudur Temple area, Magelang, Central Java.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon explained that the Vesak commemoration was an important moment to encourage cross-sectoral collaboration to make Borobudur a spiritual and cultural axis.

"This step does not only protect ancestral heritage, but also aims to have a real impact on the welfare of today and future communities," said Fadli in his statement in Jakarta, as quoted by ANTARA.

Fadli added that achieving this vision requires synergy between the central government, regional governments, and various other stakeholders. With this collaboration, it is hoped that a strong and sustainable cultural ecosystem will be created, which is able to make a real contribution to community development.

During his visit to Borobudur Temple, Fadli reiterated the government's commitment to cultural conservation, in line with the mandate of Law Number 5 of 2017 concerning the Advancement of Culture. The government seeks to integrate the preservation of cultural heritage as an important part of the sustainable development agenda.

He also instructed the ranks of the Ministry of Culture to ensure that Buddhists who come to worship can experience meaningful, comfortable, and solemn experiences on the holy site.

The Vesak celebration in the Borobudur area this year will be held in a hybrid manner, combining offline and online formats. The presence of Buddhists from within and outside the country is estimated to reach tens of thousands of people.

As an illustration, at the previous year's Vesak celebration, around 37,000 Buddhists gathered in Borobudur. For this year, the committee has also prepared online broadcasts through the WALUBI DPP YouTube platform so that global people can witness the celebration in person.

After reviewing the readiness of the event, Minister Fadli also examined the process of structuring the Borobudur Museum which is in the development stage. During the visit, he was accompanied by the Director of PT Taman Wisata Candi (TWC).

Fadli gave a number of directives related to the development of the museum, including the importance of presenting a visual narrative of the reliefs contained in Borobudur Temple and displaying a collection of musical instruments embedded in the temple walls as part of Indonesia's cultural wealth.