Buddhists 'Asadha' to be observed<\/p>\n
MAGELANG, Central Java: Commemorating the Buddhist celebration of
\nAsadha, the Buddhist community is to hold the Sejuta Pelita
\nSejuta Harapan procession at Borobudur Temple on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Asadha celebrates the first rotation of the Buddhist Dharma
\nwheel when Buddha first spelled out his teaching to five Buddhist
\nmonks.<\/p>\n
According to chairman of the organizing committee Djunaidi,
\nthe procession will start at 5 p.m. by taking the holy flame from
\nMrapen, with the lighting of a million candles at the peak.<\/p>\n
"We shall light a million candles for the ruwatan (exorcism
\nritual) for the nation. The objective is to pray for the safety
\nof the nation and of the world," said Djunaidi, adding that the
\ncelebration was also intended to greet the 60th anniversary of
\nIndonesia's independence.<\/p>\n
That is also why, Djunaidi says, although the Sejuta Pelita
\nSejuta Harapan is held to commemorate the Buddhist celebration of
\nAsadha, representatives from other religions, including from
\nIslam, Catholicism, Protestantism and Hinduism, will also
\nparticipate.<\/p>\n
These will include Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid of Nahdlatul
\nUlama, Ahmad Syafii Maarif (Muhammadiyah), Franz Magnis Suseno
\n(Catholic). The ministers of Religious Affairs and Tourism,
\nCentral Java governor and Yogyakarta governor will also be among
\nother distinguished guests at the event.<\/p>\n
"They will all join us in the procession, walking around
\nBorobudur Temple, and praying for the safety of the nation,"
\nDjunaidi said.<\/p>\n
Various traditional performances including gamelan and
\ntraditional dance from across the country, said Djunaidi, will
\nalso be performed during the opening ceremony held ahead of the
\ncandle-lit procession.<\/p>\n
"We consider this to be a way of showing that the community is
\nconcerned about difficulties that the nation is going through,"
\nhe said. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/buddhists-asadha-to-be-observed-1447893297",
"image": ""
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