"We hope these temples can be places of worship for Hindus and Buddhists in Indonesia and all over the world," Religious Affairs Ministry special staff coordinator Adung Abdul Rochman said during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Yogyakarta on Friday.
The four temples have been mostly used for research, culture, and tourism, he noted. However, with the signing of the MoU, their functions would cover religious rituals, based on the main reason for their construction, he explained.
Meanwhile, Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X said the agreement on the use of the four temples as international sites for worship is the actualization of religious moderation, social cohesion, and harmony between religious communities in Indonesia.
Hence, temple visitors would not only witness the beautiful elements but also see worship activities carried out by Hindus and Buddhists, he added.
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According to the Yogyakarta Governor, the use of the temples as international worship places is in compliance with the principles of cultural heritage preservation and is not in conflict with the regulations of the Indonesian government and UNESCO.
Indonesian Buddhist Representatives chairwoman Hartati Murdaya lauded the government's efforts to present Borobudur Temple as a national asset that can connect Buddhists from all over the world.
"I am grateful on behalf of the Indonesian Buddhist Representatives," she remarked.
Meanwhile, Hindu community leader A.A. Ngr. Ari Dwipayana said that the utilization of the four temples for religious purposes would be very meaningful for Hindus as the cultural sites now allow more freedom for worship activities.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Friday in a hybrid format by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry, Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry as well as the Yogyakarta and Central Java provincial governments.
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Translator: Luqman H, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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