30,000 Buddhists celebrates Waisak at Borobudur

30,000 Buddhists celebrates Waisak at Borobudur

MAGELANG, Central Java (JP): Over 30,000 people joined prayers
and meditations at Borobudur temple on Thursday, in observance of
Waisak, the Buddha's Day of Enlightenment.

Later in the day, President Abdurrahman Wahid, House of
Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung and Coordinating Minister
for the Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie attended a
celebration at the Jakarta Hilton Convention Center.

The ceremonies at Borobudur, dubbed the world's greatest
Buddhist monument, were organized by the Indonesian Buddhists
Association (Walubi), together with its seven congregations. The
ceremony in Jakarta was organized by rival organization the Great
Conference of Indonesian Sangha (KASI).

This year's Waisak fell in the 2544th year according to the
Buddhist calender.

Thousands of Buddhists from Indonesia and abroad gathered at
the eighth century temple, including groups from Thailand,
Singapore, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, the United Kingdom and
the United States.

Led by Monk Wiria Mitra, the worshipers began their meditation
at exactly 2:34:18 p.m., believed to be the time when the moon
had reached its fullest. The striking of a gong and the burning
of five candles and Chinese hio incense marked the start of the
ritual.

Walubi Sangha Council coordinator Monk Dutavira Mashasthavira
sprinkled holy water onto the devotees following meditations.

The event was preceded by a five-kilometer procession from
Mendut temple via Pawon temple to Borobodur. During the
procession monks and worshipers carried copies of the Tripitaka
scriptures and lights.

For the first time ever, traditional dances, including the
Chinese Liang Liong-Barongsai, Kiouw and Toa Kwoe Djai and the
Javanese Reog Ponorogo enlivened the procession.

The ritual began on Wednesday noon, when a number of Buddhist
priests took sacred water from Umbil Jumprit village in
Temanggung and fire from a natural source in Grobogan.

Both the water and the flame were then brought to the Mendut
temple to be kept overnight.

Thursday's ceremonies were attended by Director General for
the Guidance of Hindu and Buddhist Congregations I Wayan Gunawan,
Central Java Governor Mardiyanto, Cambodian Ambassador to
Indonesia Khim Bunneang, Director General of Tourism I Gde Ardika
and local administration officials.

Speaking at the ceremony, Walubi chairwoman Siti Hartati
Murdaya called on devotees to join the association, which was
established in May 1979.

"Setting up another organization with an aim to undermine
Walubi will only confuse the congregation. Let us work together
under Buddhist principles and not allow any intervention," she
said.

In a separate celebration in Jakarta, President Abdurrahman
stressed the importance of sincerity, self-control and humanity
to reach perfection in religious life.

"We have to avoid hatred against other faiths as well as
within the same faith," Abdurrahman said in the event which was
broadcast live by state television TVRI.

The President said religions should be based on self-control
instead of selfishness.

He said religions should compete only in strengthening
humanity and fighting bad human tendencies. (01/har/swa/jun)