T

he preparations to celebrate the 2,559th Buddha’s Day of Enlightenment, or Waisak, in Indonesia’s very own monumental Borobudur temple in Magelang regency, Central Java, have commenced amid concerns about the country’s peace and unity.

A series of main rituals has been taking place since Tuesday when monks took holy water from the Jumprit spring in Temanggung regency and Dhamma fire from the sacred fire sourced from Mrapen, Grobogan regency, and placed them in Mendut Temple, some 3.5 kilometers from Borobudur.

The peak of the celebration will be focused on the world’s largest Buddhist temple on Thursday at 4:42 a.m.

Thousands of Buddhists and also monks from across the country, as well several neighboring countries such as Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, will visit Borobudur for the celebration. They have been arriving ahead of the procession in Magelang since Tuesday.

Waisak emphasizes the important events in Gautama Buddha’s life, from his birth and enlightenment to perfect liberation.

In the event, the chairwoman of the Indonesian Buddhists Association (Walubi) Siti Hartati Murdaya will symbolically hand over the holy water to Wongsin Labiko Mahatera, the deputy monk of Walubi’s Widya
Kasaba.

The holy water has been blessed by monks and Buddhists for Waisak ceremonies.

“We pray for the water to bring safety and health to all Indonesians. Also for all of us to be kept far from danger,” she said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of Walubi’s Sangha religious council, monk Tadisa Paramita Mahastavira, said the monks prayed for the water to bring blessings to the country.

“We hope the holy water will bring peace and also become a symbol of humility,” Tadisa said.

The water has been put inside 12,000 bottles to be used for the Waisak ceremony on Thursday.

Monks from six Sangha groups took the sacred fire along with Walubi officials after praying and reciting mantras before a statue of Buddha.

Soedjito Kusumo, the head of Walubi’s central executive board said this year’s Waisak theme was “increasing awareness to reach wisdom.”

The theme was aimed at encouraging Buddhists to be wiser amid the country’s current situation, marred as it is by sectarian tentions and growing intolerance following the Jakarta gubernatorial election, regarded as among the dirtiest and most divisive in years and whose effects have spread nationwide.

Waisak will also be an opportunity to raise the call for Buddhists to respect the state’s motto of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).

“Indonesia acknowledges many religions and faiths, but we are still solid and united,” he said.

The celebration would also serve as hope symbolized by the Dhamma fire, he said, for the zest of life and light amid darkness.

Ratna, a Buddhist from Surakarta, Central Java, said she joined the Waisak rituals every year with a group of 15 people.

The group will start their spiritual journey from Semarang and then proceed to Mrapen before finally joining the peak event at Borobudur.

As morning light breaks, as many as 1,000 lanterns will be released into the air to mark the peak of the Waisak celebration.

The prominent annual Waisak celebration in Borobudur temple attracts a stream of visitors from various religious backgrounds from all over the country looking to witness the beauty of the lantern release at the historic temple.

The police, Indonesian Military (TNI) and local public order officials would deploy 1,500 personnel to safeguard the Waisak celebrations from May 6 to 11, said Magelang Police chief Adj. Sr. Cmr. Hindarsono.