Indonesia Buddhist Youth Association celebrates Vesak with record-breaking mobile sculpture

The Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia (YBAI) celebrated Vesak in the city of Surabaya, presenting a record-breaking three-dimensional "Rupang Moving Buddha Diorama" on the occasion of the 2024 Vesak Festival. record was officially recognized by the Indonesian World Record Museum (MURI). ) Book.

Chief organizer of Vesak Festival 2024, Anthony Orodiputro, said on the sidelines of the event that MURI recorded the record exposure in the “Largest Indoor Movable Buddha Rupang (sculpture)” category.

“The total height is 6,05 meters, which combines the height of the Buddha image alone at 3,65 meters, plus the height of the base at 2,4 meters,” Orodiputro said.

The Young Buddhist Association (YBA) is the leading Buddhist youth organization in Indonesia. Through a deep belief in the Buddha's message of compassion, growth and liberation, the association promotes a positive lifestyle among young people in order to cultivate a society based on wisdom, compassion and gratitude. The association is involved in the creation of nationwide Buddhist organizations, the propagation of Dharma study among young people, and leadership training.

The YBAI told BDG that the moving Buddha statue, presented in the form of a diorama, was the work of Balinese artist Dwi Aga Yogiswara, who spent a month preparing the work for the Vesak festival 2024.

The diorama represents seven characters: the Buddha accompanied by several monks caring for the Venerable Bhikkhu Tissa, the Buddha's paternal cousin, who was ill. Parts of the sculpture are articulated and powered by a linear hydraulic electric system.

“This artwork is in line with the theme of this year’s festival, ‘Conscious Leadership for a Better Society,’” Orodiputro said. We sought to convey this through our main diorama.

Orodiputro added that through its participation in the Vesak festival each year, YBAI has built a reputation for providing innovative ways to celebrate the life of the Buddha.

“We want to present something new to make the event more interesting,” Orodiputro emphasized. “Last year we achieved a MURI record with the largest indoor Buddha sculpture, and this year, for the second time, we broke the record. »

In addition to the moving Buddha sculpture, the Vesak Festival 2024 committee also screened a film title Hakiki, the life of a Buddhist monk, produced by Ven. Bhante Jayamedho.

“The film expresses all the Buddhist values ​​of a good life,” Orodiputro explained.

Meanwhile, Orodiputro expressed hope that the festival would strengthen the unity of all Indonesian people in the face of modern-day challenges. “By prioritizing universal values, we hope this can serve as an open learning tool for Surabaya residents and foster leadership aimed at creating a better environment and a peaceful society,” he said.

Although officially a secular nation, Indonesia is home to a diversity of religious and spiritual communities and traditions. Islam is the most widespread religion, observed by 87 percent of the population, according to 2022 national data. Christian traditions make up a total of 10,5 percent, Hinduism 1,7 percent, and the Confucianism, folklore and other traditions make up a combined total. 0,07 percent.

Buddhism, practiced by 0,73% of the population, or approximately two million people, is Indonesia's second oldest spiritual tradition after Hinduism. According to historical accounts, Buddhism first flourished on the archipelago around the XNUMXth century, followed by the rise and decline of a number of powerful Buddhist empires, including the Shailendra dynasty (around the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries). centuries), the Srivijaya empire (c. XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries) and the Mataram empire (c. XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries). Today, the majority of Indonesian Buddhists are affiliated with Mahayana schools of Buddhism, although there are also communities of Theravada and Vajrayana practitioners.

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