ibnchannel.id – The celebration of the Tri Suci Waisak Day will again be centered at Borobudur Temple, precisely on May 12, 2025 as the peak of a series of celebration activities.
Although it is a religious event, the celebration of the Tri Suci Waisak Day 2659 BE this year can also be witnessed by the public, including tourists.
One of them is the Waisak Lantern Festival, namely the flight of thousands of lanterns that will decorate the night sky above Borobudur Temple. This year, 2,569 lanterns are planned to be flown, which will certainly be an interesting and unforgettable moment for tourists.
The Waisak Lantern Festival is one of the big annual events at the Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP) Borobudur Temple which has succeeded in attracting thousands of domestic and foreign tourists.
This annual event held by the Indonesian Buddhist Representative (WALUBI) and the Indonesian Mahanikaya Buddhist Religious Council (MBMI) also received support from the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenpar RI).
Tourists can find excitement this May by attending the Tri Suci Waisak Lantern Festival, as one of the interesting and unforgettable tourism options. Check out some interesting things that can be done during the Waisak Lantern Festival, below:
1. Tour the Borobudur Temple Complex
Borobudur Temple is a tourism icon in Magelang, Central Java, which is already world-famous. This temple building, a legacy of the Syailendra Dynasty, is full of historical value and is an important heritage in the history of the archipelago.
Therefore, exploring Borobudur Temple before watching the Waisak Lantern Festival can be interesting. Visitors can explore the various temple reliefs at each level while capturing precious moments. To get detailed information about the history and other things about Borobudur Temple, visitors can also use the services of a tour guide .
2. Meditation and Writing Prayers
As part of the religious celebration, visitors can join a meditation session on the night of Waisak before entering the lantern flying moment. This activity will begin with the recitation of sacred paritta to ward off misfortune and provide protection and peace for Buddhism and the people who come.
Participants who attend this meditation session will also be given a small piece of paper to write prayers and hopes. Later, the prayer paper will be attached to the lantern and then flown into the sky.
3. Witnessing Thousands of Lanterns
On the peak night of the Waisak celebration, the Magelang sky will be filled with the sparkling light of thousands of paper lanterns flying. Every year, the lantern flying moment is one of the events that the community is waiting for as well as a tourist attraction in Magelang.
This year, as many as 2,569 lanterns will be flown as a symbol of the celebration of the Buddhist year 2569 BE. Interestingly, these lanterns are imported from Thailand and are made from thin paper that is environmentally friendly and flammable when flown into the sky.
There are two flight sessions in the 2025 Waisak Lantern Festival. In the first session, visitors can enter the area at 16.30 WIB and the flight starts at 18.00 – 20.00 WIB. The second session is at 21.00 – 23.00 WIB.
The 2025 Waisak Lantern Festival flight event will be held at Marga Utama Field and Lumbini Park. Visitors are advised to wear a white dress code, maintain politeness when entering the area, and be solemn during the event.***