{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1761297,
        "msgid": "borobudur-temple-operations-restricted-until-2pm-on-waisak-day-2026-1780360697",
        "date": "2026-05-24 13:52:00",
        "title": "Borobudur Temple Operations Restricted Until 2pm on Waisak Day 2026",
        "author": "Gana Buana",
        "source": "MEDIA_INDONESIA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "Tourist operations at Borobudur Temple will be limited to 2pm on Waisak Day 2026 to facilitate religious ceremonies, with drone shows and 2,570 peace lanterns planned. The Ministry of Religious Affairs emphasised the Pindapata tradition as a lesson in life, while East Java's corrections department granted special remission to Buddhist prisoners in 2025. The event aims to blend spiritual observance with cultural tourism despite access restrictions.",
        "content": "<p>Tourist operations at Borobudur Temple in Central Java will be\nrestricted until 2pm WIB on Waisak Day, 31 May 2026, to ensure the\nsmooth conduct of religious rituals and main celebrations. Commercial\nDirector of InJourney Destination Management (IDM), Gistang Richard\nPanutur, explained that after the cutoff time, all visitors will be\nasked to leave the temple grounds, with access limited to the courtyard\narea only. \u2018Operationally, we remain open until 2pm. After that, we will\nbegin advising visitors to leave the site as we prepare for the Waisak\nceremonies. Climbing to the upper levels of the temple will not be\npermitted on that day, only up to the courtyard,\u2019 Gistang said in\nMagelang on Sunday (24 May). This year\u2019s Waisak celebrations are set to\nbe vibrant with an increase in symbolic attributes. Fatmawati, Chair of\nthe Borobudur Waisak Peace Lanterns, stated that 2,570 peace lanterns\nwill be released into the sky above Borobudur. \u2018We add one lantern each\nyear for good fortune. This year, there will be 2,570 peace lanterns,\u2019\nFatmawati said. In addition to lanterns, a key attraction is the drone\nshow. A total of 570 drones will be deployed to illuminate the night\nsky, a significant increase from last year\u2019s 450 units. The number 570\nreferences the last three digits of the Buddhist year. The combination\nof the lantern tradition and drone technology is expected to remain a\nmagnet for religious and cultural tourism for thousands of Buddhists and\ndomestic and international visitors, despite physical access\nrestrictions to the main temple structure to maintain solemnity during\nworship. The Pindapata procession will follow Benyamin Sueb Street,\nstarting from Mega Kemayoran Roundabout (MGK), proceeding to BNI\nRoundabout, and returning to the starting point. Minister of Religious\nAffairs (Menag) Nasaruddin Umar stated that the Pindapata tradition\nduring Waisak is not merely a religious ritual but a lesson in life. The\nWaisak moment is marked by the striking of a gong precisely at 23:55:29\nWIB, taking place at the altar on Borobudur Temple\u2019s courtyard in\nMagelang Regency. To commemorate the 2025 Waisak holy day, the East Java\nRegional Office of the Directorate General of Corrections granted\nspecial remission to 24 Buddhist prisoners. This year\u2019s Waisak theme is\n\u2018Self-control and wisdom as the foundation for building peace in global\nsociety.\u2019<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/borobudur-temple-operations-restricted-until-2pm-on-waisak-day-2026-1780360697",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}