Walubi's Social Service at Borobudur Aligns with Programme to Strengthen Religious Moderation
Magelang, Indonesia — The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has assessed that the health-focused social service (baksos) ahead of Vesak 2026 at Borobudur Temple in Magelang Regency, Central Java, is organised by the Indonesian Buddhist Community Representation (Walubi) and aligns with Kemenag’s priority programme to strengthen religious moderation.
Director-General for Buddhist Community Guidance at Kemenag, Supriyadi, in Magelang on Saturday, said one of the indicators of that alignment is that the activity places humanity and the welfare of all people at the forefront, irrespective of background.
“This activity does not discriminate; instead it opens the door wide for all communities in need of health services. Hopefully after today’s examinations, residents will be able to return to their homes with health and happiness,” he said.
He welcomed the consistency of Walubi’s Central Leadership Council (DPP Walubi) together with all institutions and councils that tirelessly dedicate themselves to the nation, including through the health baksos.
“This shows that religion is not only understood as spiritual theory, but is manifested in the practice of life within society, in the nation, and in the state,” he said.
Walubi’s General Chair Siti Hartati Murdaya explained that the National Vesak celebrations always begin with noble activities, ranging from cleaning and laying flowers at war heroes’ graves across Walubi’s regional management areas to the peak of free health services.
Regarding the health baksos, she said it is, as a long-standing tradition with maintained quality, intended to deliver good karma and happiness to other living beings.
She expressed appreciation to the central government, regional government, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the management of PT Taman Wisata Candi, and the medical teams and volunteers from various religious backgrounds (Islam, Catholic, Protestant Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist) who merged in a spirit of gotong royong through the activity.
This year’s health baksos involves massive collaboration among major institutions, such as Suci Paramita Hospital (as promoter and coordinator), RSUP Dr Sardjito Yogyakarta, Army Hospital dr Soedjono Magelang, RS Moestopo, PDGI, Perdami Jateng, and several leading universities, such as Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and Sanata Dharma University Yogyakarta.
To ensure 10,000 patients receive optimal service, Walubi deployed a total of 1,646 personnel, including 237 doctors — general practitioners, dentists, surgeons, and 16 multidisciplinary specialists (anesthesiology, ENT, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, mental health, dermatology/venereology, pulmonology, acupuncture, and orthopaedics) — as well as 309 paramedics.
This year’s Vesak celebrations fall on 31 May 2026. Vesak, the festival commemorating three major events in Buddhism: the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, Siddhartha attaining full enlightenment as the Buddha, and the parinirvana or death of Siddhartha Gautama.
Borobudur Temple, with its Buddhist character, was built around the 8th century during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty, in the area between the Elo and Progo rivers, Magelang Regency.