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)