KLINIKFARMA – “If togetherness, harmony, and tolerance have been created among religious communities, then building tolerance with other religions will be easier.”
That was what was expressed by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK), Muhadjir Effendy, when giving a speech in front of thousands of Hindus at the Bumi Tawur Agung Sasih Kesanga Graduation Ceremony in the Wisnu Mandala Area of Prambanan Temple, Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Sunday (11/03/2024).
The presence of the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy at the event was also accompanied by the Coordinator of the President’s Special Staff AAGN Ari Dwipayana, the General Chairperson of the Central Executive Board of the Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) Major General TNI (ret.) Wisnu Bawa Tinaya, the Director of Hindu Education, Directorate General of Hindu Community Guidance, Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia Trimo, Assistant for Government and Public Welfare of the Regional Secretary of Central Java Province Dra. Ema Rachmawati, and the Acting Assistant Deputy for Religious Moderation of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture Thomas Siregar.
The theme of this year’s Nyepi Day celebration is “Sat Cit Ananda, For Indonesia Jaya”. In Sanskrit, “Sat” means truth, “Cit” means awareness, and “Ananda” means happiness. “The meaning of this theme is to always prioritize truth in all actions and decisions, build awareness of self-existence, and shared happiness in achieving progress for the Indonesian nation and state,” explained the Coordinating Minister for PMK.
Tawur Agung is a series of ritual ceremonies that aim to implement Tri Hita Karana or a harmonious relationship between the human conscious and the universe, as well as relationships between humans. In line with that, Coordinating Minister for PMK Muhadjir Effendy stated, “In Javanese, this process is called ‘jagad cilik’, which includes the human conscious, while the universe is called ‘jagad gedhe’. When we cleanse ourselves, we actually unite ‘jagad cilik’ and ‘jagad gedhe’, namely our conscious and the universe. The goal is to cleanse, purify, and re-purify our dharma.”
In his speech, Muhadjir Effendy emphasized that the Indonesian nation is a religious nation. There is not a single Indonesian citizen who does not believe in the existence of God, as stated in the official formulation of our country, namely “Belief in the One Almighty God”. “Our task, in accordance with the theme of the Holy Day of Nyepi ‘Sat Cit Ananda’ for Indonesia Jaya, is to build togetherness, maintain tolerance, and maintain harmony,” said Muhadjir Effendy.
While watching the Bedhaya Sivaghra Dance, the Coordinating Minister for PMK compared Hindu culture in Java with Hindu cultural arts on the island of Bali. In his speech, Muhadjir Effendy said that although Balinese dance is usually dynamic, Javanese dance which is very smooth and graceful shows a clear difference. However, this difference is not a separation, but a mosaic. This difference is neatly arranged and becomes a characteristic that makes the religious life of Hindus beautiful and harmonious.
“This extraordinary theme was held in 2024 AD ahead of the Holy Day of Nyepi 1946, which coincided with the Holy Month of Ramadan. Hopefully this will be a good sign for the life of the Indonesian nation and state. Where Hindus purify themselves together with Muslims who will carry out worship in the holy month,” said Muhadjir Effendy.
The Coordinating Minister for PMK emphasized the theme of the Holy Day of Nyepi this year, calling on all religious communities, especially religious figures, religious leaders, Pandita and Pinandita to lead their followers, followers of the Hindu religion to apply the teachings as well as possible and truly. The same applies to religious leaders from other religions. They must foster a spirit of harmony, togetherness and tolerance not only between religious communities, but also between religious communities.
