Warm Moment Between Prabowo and Modi at Prambanan Temple

A warm atmosphere marked the visit of President Prabowo Subianto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta. The two leaders appeared cordial as they conversed and admired the beauty of the world heritage site. Prabowo and PM Modi arrived at the location on Wednesday (8/7/2026) at 11.45 WIB. Upon arrival at the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia, the two leaders were welcomed by a traditional Ramayana dance performance accompanied by gamelan music. This was Modi’s first visit to Prambanan Temple. The visit signalled the start of cooperation to revitalise the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. Prabowo and PM Modi rode a boogy car together to tour the temple area, including visits to the Nandi and Siswa temples. They listened to in-depth explanations about the temple’s history as they explored the site. Modi expressed that he felt honoured to visit Prambanan Temple, a shrine for Hindus. He noted that Prambanan is the second-largest Hindu temple complex in Southeast Asia. ‘Today, here I have the honour of offering prayers at the second-largest Hindu temple complex in Southeast Asia. This temple houses the sacred statues of Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, and Lord Ganesha. For centuries, devotees have worshipped here with deep faith and devotion,’ Modi said in the courtyard of Prambanan Temple, Yogyakarta. Modi admitted he never imagined he could pray at Prambanan. He described the moment as sacred for him. ‘Today, I also had the honour of offering prayers in the most traditional way, and paying my respects at this holy temple,’ he said. ‘This has been one of the most sacred, extraordinary, and devoted moments of my life,’ Modi continued. He also mentioned that the visit was special because he was accompanied directly by Prabowo, whom he called his friend. ‘My friend President Prabowo, his presence here makes this event far more special. This event is more special because I had the opportunity to visit this sacred temple complex with my friend, President Prabowo,’ he stated. ‘I pray here for stronger relations between India and Indonesia, for closer friendship between our people, for the welfare of the citizens of both our countries, and for rapid progress and prosperity for both nations,’ Modi added. Modi said he had a pleasant experience during his visit to Indonesia, feeling a sense of peace amidst the country’s diverse society. ‘This is my third day in Indonesia. During this three-day visit, I have had a very, very pleasant experience staying here. I can feel the fragrance of life, the dynamism of its people,’ said Modi. Modi then expressed his gratitude to all elements of Indonesian society for preserving the Hindu temple, which is over a thousand years old. He stressed that this heritage must be protected together. ‘I would like to thank all the citizens of this country for preserving this cultural heritage, as well as all the government and administrative officials who have contributed to this,’ he said. ‘Whether performing the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Lhasa, or coming to this sacred temple in Indonesia, I can hear the sacred Mrityunjaya Mantra echoing, ’Om Namah Shivaya’ resounding. This is our shared cultural heritage,’ Modi continued. Modi committed to accelerating cooperation on the conservation and restoration of Prambanan Temple. He believes this cooperation will bring benefits to Indonesia’s tourism sector. ‘And in this magnificent temple complex in Yogyakarta, we are undertaking renovation work. This place is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site,’ he said. ‘I can assure you, after our joint efforts in this renovation, the number of tourists and devotees from India will grow exponentially in the future,’ he added. Modi committed to continuing to preserve all cultural heritage related to India. ‘And wherever and whenever we travel around the world, we can catch a glimpse of Indian culture and heritage,’ he said. As a concrete step from this visit, the cooperation will be realised in the ‘Indonesia-India Collaborative Cultural Heritage Conservation’ agreement. This long-term restoration programme, scheduled to run from 2026 to 2036, will focus on restoring more than 200 perwara temples in the second courtyard, which are currently mostly in ruins. This ambitious restoration project will apply modern technological approaches, such as LiDAR surveys, AI-based digital reconstruction, digital documentation, and anastylosis methods. For context, Prambanan Temple, built in 856 AD by Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Kayuwangi, has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The complex has 240 temple buildings with three main temples embodying the Trimurti concept (Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma) and architecture based on Vastu Shastra. Prabowo appreciated Modi’s visit to Prambanan Temple. Prabowo considered the moment very special. ‘Today I had the opportunity to accompany His Excellency the Prime Minister of India to visit Prambanan Temple, one of the masterpieces of world civilisation and a cultural heritage that is the pride not only of the Indonesian nation, but also of the world. This visit holds a very special meaning,’ said Prabowo. Prabowo stated that Prambanan Temple is not only a symbol of the glory of Indonesia’s historical culture, but also a reminder and proof of the civilisational ties between Indonesia and India that have been woven for over a thousand years.