Directorate General of Buddhist Community Guidance of the Republic of Indonesia & TMII Sign MoU on Implementation of Religious Activities
Space for cultural and religious expression to strengthen national identity needs to be pursued by all parties. Support through the availability of access, places and ideas in developing cultural identity that includes spiritual aspects is one of the crucial values in national and state life.
This is manifested in the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Implementation of Religious Activities between the Directorate General of Buddhist Community Guidance of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII).
Director General of Buddhist Community Guidance Supriyadi together with the President Director of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), Intan Ayu Kartika signed the MoU Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Implementation of Religious Activities in Jakarta, Friday (21/2/2025).
"What we put in the document is not just limited to signing, but of course there is our joint obligation to be able to carry out and strive for various activities, especially activities for all of us in order to strengthen cultural promotion, promotion of Indonesian identity," explained the Director General of Buddhist Community Guidance, Supriyadi.
Director General of Community Guidance Buddha Supriyadi added that the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah area provides an overview and space for the public to see Indonesia's identity.
"If you want to travel around Indonesia, don't go far, just go to Taman Mini, there are islands from Sabang to Merauke and you can see religious life, see ornaments, artifacts or anything that has religious symbols," he added.
According to Supriyadi, this certainly needs to be optimized and needs to be given meaning. The meaning is how Buddhists are given space to be able to provide religious expressions that can not only strengthen the beliefs of Buddhists, but can also provide educational information for the people who see it.
"Let's say that Buddhist friends will later carry out Waisak activities, including pradaksina and fangshen, which we will perhaps promote, we will voice more. all out "Maybe the public will be more interested," said Supriyadi.
The Director General further conveyed to jointly voice to Buddhists to maximize the Dwipa Arama Temple in the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah complex through religious activities and remember the services of one of the Buddhist religious figures, namely the late Brigadier General TNI Ret. Soeraji Aria Kertawidjaja for his services in initiating the construction of the Dwipa Arama Temple.
Meanwhile, the President Director of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Intan Ayu Kartika said that the implementation of this MOU is the first step for cooperation in developing spiritual activities in TMII. She hopes that in the future, in TMII there will be more concrete initiatives that we can do together, Waisak is one of them.
"Not only celebrations, but we are also very open if there are activities or those that require a venue, we are very open to supporting this," he explained.
The President Director of TMII explained that TMII as a tourist destination, especially in Jakarta, aims to promote and preserve Indonesian culture. Which of course includes religious tolerance, how we establish harmony between religious communities.
"So if you look at it, maybe only in TMII we have a place of worship, complete with all religions side by side, including Buddhism, also part of the Borobudur Temple Tourism Park, where every year the Waisak ceremony is also held in Borobudur and last year's Thudong was also celebrated in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah," he concluded.
Source: bimasbuddha.kemenag.go.id
