ASIA/INDONESIA – Civil society and religious communities: “No” to an entrance fee to the Borobudur temple and places of worship
Jakarta (Agency Fid of the world, located in the regency of Magelang, Central Java. The Indonesian Buddhist Society (Walubi), through its spokesperson Ruslin Tan, has conveyed its deep concern to the faithful Buddhists and to the locals about the potential decrease in the number of tourists and pilgrims visiting the famous Buddhist temple, noting that any place of worship, regardless of religion, must by nature be open to all Borobudur Temple is an ancient place of cult which, due to its unique historical character, has also become one of the busiest tourist sites in Indonesia, but continues to host impressive religious gatherings and Buddhist pilgrimages. visited for a small fee (between 25,000 and 50,000 Indonesian rupees), accessible to all, the government has announced that it wants to drastically change the entrance fee. The new entrance fee will be 750 rupees i Indonesian food (about 50 USD) per person. This amount is very high for most Indonesians, knowing that the salary of a low-income worker is around 2 million rupees (138 USD). Indonesian Buddhist monk Sri Pannyavaro Mahathera remarked, “So many poor people will no longer be able to visit the temple, it would be a great loss. The government’s announcement sparked public outcry, although Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Borobudur Temple, justified the decision on “preserving the environmental safety of the largest Buddhist temple in the world”. was founded in the 9th century by the Syailendra dynasty of the Buddhist kingdom based in Central Java. The building merges the Indonesian tradition of ancestor worship with the Buddhist concept of the journey to “Nirvana”. The temple consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular, surmounted by a central dome. It is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and originally featured 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa. (MH/PA) (Agenzia Fides, 15/06/2022)
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