Fadli Zon attends National Dharmasanti Tri Suci Waisak 2570 BE/2026
Culture Minister Fadli Zon attended the National Dharmasanti Tri Suci Waisak 2570 BE/2026 held at Taman Lumbini, Borobudur Temple.
Fadli’s presence demonstrated the Ministry of Culture’s full support for the National Waisak Day celebrations in 2570 BE/2026, as well as his role as patron of the national organising committee for this year’s Waisak festivities.
Held under the theme ‘Dharma as a Source of Morality and Wisdom’ with the subtheme ‘Love as the Source of World Peace’, the Dharmasanti event served as an opportunity to strengthen brotherhood, reinforce tolerance, and uphold peace in national life.
In a video message for Waisak, Fadli stated that Waisak is a particularly significant day for Buddhists worldwide.
“Today, over 25 centuries ago, three momentous events occurred: the birth of Prince Siddhartha, his attainment of Perfect Enlightenment, and the Parinibbana of the Buddha. These three events form a continuous journey from seeking to enlightenment, then achieving liberation,” Fadli said in a written statement on Monday, 1 June 2026.
Fadli also emphasised the Ministry of Culture’s efforts in preserving and maintaining Borobudur as a world cultural heritage site and sacred place for Buddhists.
“As Culture Minister, I wish to reaffirm our commitment to Borobudur as one of the most magnificent world cultural heritage sites, which is also a sacred site for millions of Buddhists. Borobudur is not merely a monument and reliefs; it is the physical manifestation of humanity’s inner journey towards enlightenment,” Fadli explained.
“Preserving Borobudur is preserving civilisational memory, and we are committed to doing so with full responsibility for future generations,” he added.
National Waisak Committee Chair Hartati Murdaya stated in her report that the Dharmasanti aims to strengthen Dharma practice, unify the nation, and bring peace to Indonesia.
Hartati also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Culture for supporting the National Waisak celebrations.
“We extend our deepest thanks to the Culture Minister for his support and enthusiasm in facilitating Buddhist worship at the Borobudur cultural site, as well as ongoing collaboration in restoring the historical Buddhist area in Muaro Jambi,” Hartati said.
She also highlighted the importance of preserving the Muaro Jambi temple complex, a major centre for Buddhist learning during the Srivijaya Kingdom from the 7th to 13th centuries.
The area is known as the place where the Indian monk Atisha Dipankara studied Buddhist teachings under Mahaguru Dharmakirti.
Meanwhile, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, in his speech, praised Buddhists for their contributions to social harmony and humanistic values in Indonesia.
“I extend my highest appreciation to Buddhists for their role in maintaining social harmony, developing humanitarian activities, education, healthcare, and community empowerment initiatives. The Waisak celebration at Borobudur is not just a religious observance but a strong symbol of Indonesia’s diversity and unity,” Gibran said.
Gibran stressed that core Buddhist values such as metta (loving-kindness), karuna (compassion), and panna (wisdom) are highly relevant in addressing today’s increasingly complex life challenges.
He called on all citizens to continue fostering brotherhood and bequeathing a peaceful and dignified Indonesia to future generations.
The Waisak celebrations concluded with a drone show depicting the Buddha’s life (Jataka tales) and a peace lantern release at Borobudur.
The lantern release symbolises the spiritual act of letting go of negative traits such as greed, anger, and ignorance. The activity represents self-purification, prayer, and hopes for peace and enlightenment for all beings.
The Ministry of Culture hopes the National Waisak 2570 BE/2026 celebrations will continue to strengthen tolerance, interfaith harmony, and reinforce Indonesia’s cultural heritage as a space for spiritual, cultural, and global peace.
The event was also attended by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago; Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar; Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana; Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya; along with Buddhist monks, Catholic priests, and Protestant ministers.
From the Ministry of Culture, attendees included Director of Cultural Heritage Agus Widiatmoko; Head of Museum and Cultural Heritage Indira Estiyanti Nurjadin; and Borobudur World Heritage Unit Coordinator Wiwit Kasiyati.