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Jakarta Post

Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival to discuss spiritual journey, native religions

Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, November 16, 2017

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Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival to discuss spiritual journey, native religions Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java. Slated to run from on Nov. 23 to 25, Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival (BWCF) will discuss the second, third and fourth reliefs in Borobudur temple's alleys. (JP/Tarko Sudiarno)

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he sixth installment of Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival (BWCF) is slated to run from Nov. 23 to 25 in Yogyakarta and Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java.

Themed “Gandawyuha and the Quest of Religiosity in the Archipelago’s Native Religions,” the three-day event will discuss Borobudur temple’s reliefs in second, third and fourth alleys as well as the country’s native faiths.

Festival curator Seno Joko Suyono said at a press conference on Tuesday that Gandawyuha is among the most important parts of Borobudur temple. The reliefs were said to illustrate a sutra about a man named Sudhana, regarding his spiritual pilgrimages in seeking enlightenment.  

“[Those wanting] to understand Borobudur temple need to understand Gandawyuha,” stressed Seno, adding that BWCF 2017 would be the first event to discuss the ins and outs of Gandawyuha reliefs.

Read also: Borobudur among National Geographic’s 15 iconic adventures

Seno mentioned that the theme also illustrated multiculturalism and pluralism, which led the committee to also invite theologians, historians and academicians to discuss it.

In addition to discussing Gandawyuha, the BWCF 2017 will also host seminars about native religions, such as Sunda Wiwitan, Parmalim and others.

Romo (Father) Mudji Sutrisno, another curator in BWCF 2017, added that Gandawyuha was relevant to the current situation. "In the midst of fanaticism and religious intolerance today, the Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival considered the Gandawyuha sutra very universal and illustrates a high level of religious tolerance," said Mudji.

In addition to the discussions, BWCF 2017 will also feature morning meditations, a photo exhibition, a yoga dance performance and more. (kes)

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