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THE INDONESIAN government has officially declared Prambanan Temple in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Borobudur Temple, Pawon Temple and Mendut Temple in Central Java to become places of worship for Hindus and Buddhists from all over the world.
Marking the declaration, the Ministry of Religion, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, as well as the DIY Provincial Government and Central Java Provincial Government held an online and offline signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the utilization of the four temples.
“We hope that these temples can become places of worship for Hindus and Buddhists in Indonesia and the world,” said Special Staff Coordinator for the Minister of Religion Adung Abdul Rochman during a press conference after the signing of the memorandum of understanding at Gedhong Pracimasana, Kepatihan Complex, Yogyakarta, Friday (2/2). /11).
Adung said that the four temples in Central Java and Yogyakarta have been mostly used for research, cultural and tourism purposes.
Through the agreement, the functions of the temples will include ritual purposes referring to the original purpose for which they were founded.
The Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, said that the agreement on the use of four temples as places of worship was the spirit for the realization of religious moderation, social cohesion, and inter-religious harmony in Indonesia.
According to the King of the Yogyakarta Palace, the use of Prambanan Temple, Borobudur Temple, Mendut Temple and Pawon Temple for religious purposes will focus on the spiritual and educational values of these sites.
Thus, people who visit not only see the beauty of the temple but also the worship activities carried out by Hindus and Buddhists.
“The utilization is carried out with due regard to aspects of the preservation of cultural heritage and its values and does not conflict with regulations from the Government of Indonesia and UNESCO,” said Sultan.
Together with the Central Java Provincial Government, he agreed to facilitate the follow-up of the use of the temple.
Chairman of Walubi Hartati Murdaya thanked and appreciated the government’s efforts to present Borobudur Temple as a national asset that could connect Buddhists worldwide. “I am grateful on behalf of the representatives of Indonesian Buddhists,” he said.
Hartati believes that the government’s initiative to bring out the religious spirit in the four temples will have a big impact on the economy in Indonesia, especially Central Java and Yogyakarta.
Temple visitors, according to him, will not only take pictures at the temple site, but will allow them to stay longer and spend more time in the two provinces.
“Buddhists have many sects, if everyone is interested in visiting Yogyakarta and Central Java it will have a tremendous impact,” said Hartati.
Hindu leader A.A. Ngr. Ari Dwipayana said that the use of the four temples for religious purposes is very meaningful for Hindus because in the future people will be freer to worship at the cultural heritage site.
“We would like to thank President Joko Widodo who has gone to great lengths to pave the way for realizing the MoU to utilize the temple not only for conservation purposes but also for other interests including rituals, economy, and science,” said Ari who is also the Coordinator of the Presidential Staff of the Republic of Indonesia.
The main points of the Memorandum of Understanding for the four ministers, the Governor of DIY, and the Governor of Central Java are the elaboration of Law No. 11 of 2010 concerning Cultural Conservation, especially the provisions of Article 85 which regulates the use of cultural heritage, including the use for religious purposes, and the provisions of Article 93 concerning regulations. implementation of the Law on Cultural Conservation in a Government Regulation that has been promulgated as PP Number 1 of 2022. [antaranews/photo special]
