West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi prioritises small village mosques to restore spiritual essence

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi is prioritising the construction of small mosques, known locally as tajug, within residential neighbourhoods to reinforce the function of houses of worship as spaces for prayer and spiritual reflection amidst the community. According to Dedi, the policy was adopted because some mosques are now experiencing a shift in function from places of worship to spaces for recreation and public activity. Speaking in Bandung on Friday, Dedi assessed that the spiritual aspect often loses prominence compared to the architectural appeal of buildings, which encourages people to come to take photographs. “If a mosque becomes a recreational facility rather than a spiritual facility, then the mosque will only become a place for selfies, not a place for contemplation,” Dedi said. Therefore, the West Java Provincial Government is directing the construction of more tajug in densely populated areas to bring worship facilities closer to the community. “We want to build small mosques in community environments that need them at all times. There are already many grand mosques in West Java,” Dedi stated. He explained that the development of tajug will be carried out gradually and in an integrated manner, involving support from various parties. According to Dedi, the concept aims to revive the function of the surau as a centre for religious activities without adding new management structures within the community. “We want to build mosques that have congregations, places where children learn to recite the Quran, and that serve as worship spaces for the community,” he said. The former Purwakarta Regent believes that the value of worship is not determined by the grandeur of the building, but by the quality of a person’s spiritual relationship with God. According to Dedi, the place is not the main factor in building spiritual closeness because what is most important is inner silence and the ability to bring divine values into daily life.