PDIP Secretary-General urges preservation of Lake Toba civilisation and ancestral traditions
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Secretary-General of the DPP PDI Perjuangan Hasto Kristiyanto stressed the importance of preserving the civilisation of Lake Toba and ancestral traditions during a cultural and spiritual pilgrimage by climbing Mount Pusuk Buhit, located on the western shore of Lake Toba, Samosir Regency, North Sumatra.
Hasto explained that the visit to Mount Pusuk Buhit was an important part of the party’s spiritual-ideological process. In Batak mythology, the peak of Mount Pusuk Buhit is believed to be the birthplace of Si Raja Batak, or the origin of the first Batak people.
“We will come to Mount Pusuk Buhit. This place is the mythology of the origin of the first Batak people, which is very important. Behind the folk stories that have developed, there are always philosophies, moral values about goodness, and awareness of the Creator of the universe,” Hasto said in a written statement received in Jakarta on Saturday.
During the spiritual visit, Hasto Kristiyanto was accompanied by DPP PDI Perjuangan Chair for Ideology and Cadreisation Djarot Saiful Hidayat, Legal Team member Johannes Oberlin Tobing, Party Spokespersons Aryo Seno Bagaskoro and Mohamad Guntur Romli, and Chair of the PDI Perjuangan North Sumatra Regional Board Rapidin Simbolon.
Prior to the pilgrimage, Hasto first led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the PDI Perjuangan Samosir Regency Branch Office in Lumban Suhi-Suhi Toruan Village, Pangururan District.
According to Hasto, the exploration of local cultural values is in line with the teachings of the Proclamator of the Republic of Indonesia, Bung Karno, in formulating Pancasila, particularly the first principle of Belief in the One and Only God.
Hasto emphasised that Bung Karno saw the spiritual traditions living within the Nusantara community as the foundation for building an inclusive state.
“Bung Karno taught that divinity in Indonesia is a divinity of character, a divinity of culture, and there must be no religious or ethnic egoism. The Republic of Indonesia was built on the principle of all for all and one for all. This spirituality is what we must continue to safeguard from the land of Samosir,” he added.
In addition, Hasto reiterated the special message of PDI Perjuangan Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri regarding the importance of preserving Lake Toba, which has been recognised by UNESCO as a Global Geopark area.
Hasto stressed that the development of public facilities and spatial planning in Samosir for the next 100 years must continue to take into account the balance of nature, public space along the lake shoreline, and the spiritual values of the local area.
Hasto affirmed that the visit to Samosir, including the climb of Pusuk Buhit, underscores PDI Perjuangan’s commitment to continuing to ground Pancasila, which is deeply rooted in history, local culture, and environmental sustainability.