Jakarta, IO – Prambanan Temple Tourism Park in Sleman regency, Yogyakarta remains open during the Tawur Agung Kesanga ceremony on Sunday (10/3).
PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko (TWC) president director Febrina Intan said it invites tourists to witness one of the series of events to celebrate the Nyepi Day (day of silence).
“We are not closing tourist visits to Prambanan Temple, instead we are inviting visitors to watch this ritual take place,” explained Febrina, per Kompas, Thu (7/3).
“Prambanan Temple invites all parties to witness directly and learn about the universal values contained in this celebration.”
Tourists can also buy a tour package to take part in a series of ceremonies such as watching a dance and other performances that reflect self-purification at the cost of Rp250,000 for domestic tourists and Rp500,000 for foreign tourists. Visitors need to make a reservation in advance.
The Tawur Agung Kesanga ceremony is a series of Hindu holidays which this year falls on Monday (11/3). The ceremony, which is usually carried out before Nyepi Day, begins with mendhak tirta (taking holy water), then continues with circling the grounds of Prambanan Temple.
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This year, there will be a procession of the three main mountains, accompanied by baleganjur music. It will then end with a group prayer to ‘cleanse the earth’ before Nyepi Day.
Apart from that, Tawur Agung Kesanga is held as a purification ritual so human beings can live in harmony with the universe, while preserving harmony with nature. (un)