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Twenty thousand Buddhists to celebrate Waisak Day in Borobudur Temple
Around 20,000 Buddhists from all across Indonesia and abroad were expected to celebrate the 2,559th Enlightenment or Waisak Day in the Borobudur Temple, Central Java on Tuesday night
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round 20,000 Buddhists from all across Indonesia and abroad were expected to celebrate the 2,559th Enlightenment or Waisak Day in the Borobudur Temple, Central Java on Tuesday night.
'We expect approximately 20,000 Buddhists to come to the temple, as well as worshippers from 18 foreign countries such as from Thailand, Singapore, China, Tibet, and other countries,' the head of board of trustees of the Indonesian Buddhist Association (Walubi), Murdaya W Po, said here on Tuesday.
The worshippers would attend all of the processions, which would commence in the Mendut Temple and Pawon Temple, also in Central Java, then move to the Borobudur Temple.
Waisak Day emphasizes the three important events in Gautama Buddha's life, from his birth, enlightenment and perfect liberation.
Kompas.com reported that President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and other government officials were also slated to attend the opening ceremony of the Waisak celebration in the Borobudur Temple at 7 p.m.
The peak of the procession would be held near midnight and would be marked by releasing 1,000 lanterns to drift up into the sky.
Murdaya also said that this year's Waisak celebration should also serve as a moment to create world peace among people regardless of racial, religion, or ethnic background, especially with the case of the Muslim Rohingya people in Myanmar and in Indonesian provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra. (fsu)(+++)
