Religious facilities across Indonesia ready to welcome homebound travellers during Eid exodus

Jakarta — Religious facilities do not merely serve as places of worship; they can also function as temporary rest stops for homebound travellers seeking respite during their journeys.

The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) has designated churches, Hindu temples, and Buddhist temples located along major holiday migration routes as temporary rest areas operating 24 hours throughout the homebound travel and return periods.

The Director General of Christian Community Guidance (Bimas Kristen), Jeane Marie Tulung, stated that the presence of churches within communities is expected to convey values of compassion and human solidarity.

“This service activity represents a faith calling to demonstrate God’s love tangibly within society and to strengthen solidarity and harmony in national life,” said Jeane in Jakarta.

A total of 106 churches across various Indonesian regions are opening rest facilities for homebound travellers ahead of the Eid 1447 Hijriah/Lebaran 2026 exodus. This service is packaged under the Welcoming Churches for Travellers Programme, driven by the Christian Community Guidance Directorate of Kemenag.

Several churches registered in this programme include HKBP Pasaman Barat, GPDI Bukit Sion Bangko Sempurna, GPT Mawar Saron, and various churches from the Pentecostal Church of Indonesia (GPdI) and Indonesian Pentecostal Church (GPI) networks.

In Manado, for example, churches located on strategic routes such as the Pentecostal Church of Indonesia Batas Kota Malalayang Dua and the Masehi Injili Church in Minahasa Abraham Sario are opening their facilities as rest stops for homebound travellers.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Hindu Community Guidance at Kemenag has prepared seven temples along major holiday migration routes as 24-hour rest areas throughout the homebound travel and return periods.

Director General of Hindu Community Guidance, I Nengah Duija, stated that this step follows direction from the Minister of Religion, Nasaruddin Umar, to enable multi-faith religious facilities along holiday migration routes to be utilised as safe and comfortable rest areas for the public.

Seven temples positioned on strategic holiday travel routes and ready to serve as rest stops for homebound travellers include Pura Agung Tirta Bhuana in Bekasi, West Java, located at the strategic starting point of the North Coast and Kalimalang routes.

In East Java, Pura Jala Siddhi Amertha in Sidoarjo serves as an important access point for travellers on the eastern route of Java. In Bali, there are Pura Goa Lawah Klungkung, Pura Majapahit Jembrana, Pura Agung Jagatnatha Buleleng, Pura Ponjok Batu Buleleng, and Pura Pulaki Buleleng.

Additionally, Kemenag has prepared 45 Buddhist temples ready to serve as rest stops during holiday travel.

“There are 45 Buddhist temples distributed across Java, Sumatra, Bali, and West Nusa Tenggara, ready to function as rest stops,” said Director General of Buddhist Community Guidance, Supriyadi.

The 45 temples are distributed across Aceh Province (3 locations), Riau Islands (2), Bangka Belitung Islands (1), South Sumatra (1), Bengkulu (1), Lampung (10), Jakarta (4), Central Java (14), Yogyakarta Special Region (2), East Java (4), Bali (2), and West Nusa Tenggara (1).