MAGELANG - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon emphasized the encouragement to make Borobudur a living heritage when reviewing the Mendut Monastery, Magelang Regency, ahead of the Tri Suci Waisak celebration on May 31, 2026.
During a working visit, Sunday, May 3, Fadli saw firsthand the readiness of the Mahayana Buddhist monastery with Bhante Pannavaro Mahathera. He assessed that the Mendut and Borobudur areas were not just historical sites, but living spaces that must maintain their spiritual values.
"This is in line with our aspiration to make Borobudur a living heritage that must be realized, of course with the support of Buddhist organizations and the wider community," said Fadli.
Fadli also highlighted symbols in Buddhist tradition, including chattra or umbrellas as a form of respect and protection. He said that symbol was found in many reliefs of Borobudur Temple.
During the visit, Fadli appreciated the role of Bhante Pannavaro who was considered to maintain the continuity of spiritual values at Mendut Monastery. This monastery was built in 1976 and in 2026 it will be 50 years old.
"Bhante Pannavaro from the beginning became a leader of the people at this monastery and helped maintain the noble values that exist," he said.
According to Fadli, Vesak is not only a religious celebration, but also a cultural event that has a broad meaning for the Indonesian people.
"Waisak is a momentum to reflect on the teachings of Dharma as a guide for life towards wisdom and compassion, as well as strengthening tolerance and unity," he said.
He emphasized that the preservation of sites such as Borobudur must provide real benefits to the community, not only by maintaining the physical building but also the living values within it.
The visit was also attended by the President Director of Borobudur Park, Febrina Intan, the Director General of Cultural and Traditional Protection, Restu Gunawan, and a number of officials from the Ministry of Culture and the management of cultural sites.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
