Regent Welcomes Thudong Monks' Arrival at Banyuwangi Temple

Banyuwangi (ANTARA) - The Regent of Banyuwangi, Ipuk Fiestiandani, together with interfaith communities, welcomed the arrival of Thudong monks at the temple or Tri Dharma Worship Place (TITD) Tik Liong Tian Rogojampi, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, on Monday.

Ipuk expressed respect for the monks who have sincerely and patiently undertaken a journey of thousands of kilometres for spiritual purposes.

The monks, Ipuk continued, arrived in Banyuwangi in good health and safety. After this, they will walk hundreds more kilometres to reach their final destination, Borobudur Temple, the centre of this year’s Vesak celebrations.

The monks’ journey, she said, is part of the Indonesia Walk for Peace 2026, involving 50 monks from Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, and six from Indonesia.

Ipuk stated that the spiritual journey of the Thudong monks (spiritual walking ritual) carries messages of peace, humanity, and brotherhood amid diversity.

“In Banyuwangi, mosques, churches, temples, monasteries, and shrines live side by side. The community is harmonious and mutually supportive. Diversity is not a reason for division, but a strength for mutual reinforcement,” Ipuk remarked.

The spiritual journey of the Thudong monks will last approximately three weeks to participate in the Vesak Day celebrations at Borobudur Temple on 31 May 2026.

Siswanto, Chairman of the Tik Liong Tian Temple Committee in Banyuwangi, said that during the journey, the monks will stop at several monasteries and places of worship prepared by the committee in various regions.

“After Rogojampi, the monks will continue their journey to Vihara Jaya Manggala in Yosomulyo Village, Gambiran Subdistrict,” he said.