1m candles to light up Borobudur

1m candles to light up Borobudur

JAKARTA: Some 10,000 people are expected to attend the 50th
anniversary commemoration of the Indonesian Buddhayana Council
(MBI) at Borobudur Temple on July 23, with one million candles
due to be lit up during the event.

The event will also mark the use of Borobudur Temple for more
than half a century as a place of prayer for Buddhists.

Among those invited to the commemoration ceremony were
domestic and foreign visitors, as well as leaders of different
religions. Around 100 Buddhist monks were also expected to
attend.

MBI member Budiman said on Saturday that around 8,000 visitors
had confirmed their attendance at the ceremony, during which
prayers will be offered for Indonesia.

"The Indonesian people have suffered various tragedies, such
as floods, tsunamis, earthquakes and malnutrition. By lighting
the candles, we hope that we will be able to leave such trials
behind us," Budiman said.

Committee chairman Daud Dharsono said the one million candles
would remain lighted for 6 hours, adding that he hoped the event
would make it into the Guinness Book of Records and the
Indonesian Records Museum.

Among the prominent figures expected to attend are Minister of
Religious Affairs M. Maftuh Basyuni, Minister of Culture and
Tourism Jero Watjik, Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, Ahmad Syafii
Maarif, Franz Magnis Suseno, Sultan Hamengku Buwono X of
Yogyakarta and Kwik Kian Gie. (004)