Collaboration Presents Memorable Galungan Celebration at Prambanan Temple

Dozens of Hindus from DI Yogyakarta and Central Java participated in the Galungan procession in the Prambanan Temple area, Wednesday (28/2/2024). The third celebration in the largest Hindu temple area in Indonesia is a form of support for efforts to utilize it in accordance with the principles of preserving cultural heritage and in line with the Memorandum of Understanding of the Four Ministers and Two Governors on the Utilization of Prambanan Temple and Borobudur Temple for the Interests of Hindus and Buddhists throughout the world.

The Galungan celebration at Prambanan Temple was carried out thanks to collaboration between the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Hindu Community Guidance (Bimas) of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs with the Prambanan Temple Utilization Working Team, the Cultural Preservation Center (BPK) Region X, Bimas Hindu, Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko, and Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java. 

This activity was attended by around dozens of Hindus from various regions including Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, Sleman, Bantul, Klaten and Boyolali. The moment to commemorate the creation of the universe and gratitude for what Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa has given is done by presenting offerings and prayers from the main zone of Prambanan Temple.

The Galungan celebration ceremony invites people to be grateful for the victory of Dharma (truth) in fighting Adharma (evil) through the blessing of Sang Hyang Widi Wasa (God Almighty). The momentum of Galungan also moves people to live the best life, both for fellow human beings and for the universe.

GM Prambanan & Ratu Boko I Gusti Putu Ngurah Sedana is committed to continue developing the Galungan celebration as a national procession and followed by Hindus from various regions in Indonesia. This is in line with preservation efforts by echoing spiritual activities at the Prambanan World Cultural Heritage destination. 

"Preservation efforts through spiritual activities such as the Galungan celebration encourage the development of quality tourism. The rituals that run solemnly and sacredly, present authentic experiences and memorable experiences for the congregation who attend," explained I Gusti Putu Ngurah Sedana in Prambanan, Wednesday (28/2/2024).

Prambanan Temple is an ancestral heritage to restore the function of Hindu temples as ancestral heritage of Hindus in DI Yogyakarta and Central Java. Hindus perform Galungan holy day prayers in the courtyard of Prambanan Temple through a procession that focuses on cleaning the temple through offerings and tirta penglukatan. After that, the caretakers present offerings in the temple chamber, and continue with joint prayers. 

Hindu Community Guidance Officer of DI Yogyakarta Didik Widya Putra explained that Galungan Day, which according to the Purana Bali Dwipa manuscript was first celebrated on the Purnama Kapat day (Budha Kliwon Dungulan) in the year 882 AD or the year Saka 804, is interpreted as a day of victory for Dharma (Good) against aDharma (Evil). The day when people celebrate it by offering worship and gratitude to Ida Sanghyang Widhi Wasa.

"The essence of Galungan is to unite spiritual strength to obtain clear thoughts and convictions. The union of spirituality and clear thoughts is the manifestation of dharma within oneself. While all the chaos of the mind (byaparaning idep) is a manifestation of adharma. From the conception of the Sunarigama palm leaf, it is concluded that the essence of Galungan is to celebrate the victory of dharma over adharma," he concluded.