"Come inside and feel free to rest," said Sarwoko, a Catholic-Javanese man, welcoming visitors to his beautiful Limasan (traditional Javanese) house, which is located at the entrance of the Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java. 

In the living room, there were bottled waters and snacks for visitors. At a glance, the atmosphere looked similar to that of an Idul Fitri open house.

"We always have [the open house] every Waisak Day. [We] offer a place for visitors to rest before joining the ceremony in the Borobudur Temple," Sarwoko said.

Read also: Borobudur attracts 40,000 visitors during Vesak celebration

The house, which also serves as a private gallery, felt like an oasis in the middle of a desert. The ambiance was a beautiful harmony of religions in Indonesia, which has been slowly disappearing due to materialism and intolerance. Fortunately, tolerance can still be found in the Borobudur Temple.

Celebrated on May 11, Waisak Day brought with it some much-needed harmony. During the Pindhapata (practice of alms-gathering by monks) ritual on Jl. Pemuda in Magelang, people coming from different backgrounds, including women in hijabs, were seen giving donations to monks.

A similar sight dominated a lantern ceremony at the Borobudur Temple, which was not only attended by Buddhist worshippers, but people from all walks of life. (jes/kes)

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