T

housands of worshippers and monks celebrated Buddha’s Day of Enlightenment, or Waisak, in a yard at Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, on Thursday morning.

Since midnight, followers of Buddhism gathered in the yard to take part in rituals alongside dozens of monks from various countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

When the peak of Waisak came in the morning, all worshippers fell into silence. The moment was marked with three rings of a bell and the spreading of paritta jayanto (holy water.) All then participated in mass meditation, sitting in peace and silence.

“Buddhist people have to be aware of the essence of Buddha and at the same time absorb it. [One must] struggle in high spirit to reach enlightenment,” monk Tadisa Paramita Mahasthavira said in his sermon.

Before leading the meditation, monk Wongsin Labhiko called on people to look past problems facing the world. “We have to always understand the fact that the world is not eternal,” he said.

Various events were organized throughout the week to celebrate Waisak. On Wednesday night, 1,999 lampions were flown into the sky over the Aksobhya Park complex at Borobudur Temple.

“I never miss Waisak at Borobudur. I have been here since Tuesday. I will go home after the celebration is over,” Hari, a worshipper, said after releasing a lampion.

At a separate event on Wednesday afternoon, thousands of Buddhists partook in a walking ritual from Mendut Temple to Borobudur Temple, covering 3.5 kilometers.

Council of Buddhist Communities (Walubi) chairperson Siti Hartati Murdaya said the ritual was a form of meditation. “Walking is an important activity because it is an awareness exercise to keep us firm in thinking,” she said.

In Semarang, dozens of Buddhists meditated at Tanah Putih Temple on Jl. Dr. Wahidin.

In Medan, North Sumatra, thousands of Buddhists were seen flocking to temples in the city, including Borobudur Vihara.

The temple’s spokesperson, Adi Yanto, said the celebration began on Tuesday and lasted for three days. “The peak of the celebration is today,” Adi said on Thursday.

This year’s celebration, he said, also involved sending out prayers calling for safety and fortune.

North Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Rycko Amelza Dahniel in his remarks at Sinar Budhi Temple in Medan asked Buddhists to maintain diversity and harmony, especially among people of different religions and faiths.

“My presence here is a form of love to nurture diversity. In nurturing diversity, ethnicities, religions and languages are not singled out,” Rycko said.