MATASEMARANG.COM – The Borobudur Temple in Magelang District draws 2,045 domestic and foreign Buddhists to the Indonesia Tipitaka Chanting (ITC) and Asalha Mapuja 2026, held from July 24 to 26 this year.
Buddhist monk Gutadhammo Mahatera, chair of the organizing committee, said in Magelang on Friday that the large-scale religious gathering aims to preserve Buddhist teachings and promote the Dhamma through recitations of the Holy Tipitaka texts.
“This year’s ITC and Asalha Mapuja carry special significance as they coincide with the golden jubilee of the Indonesian Theravada Sangha,” he remarked as quoted Antara.
The monk highlighted strong enthusiasm among devotees to join the event, noting that registrations had exceeded the 2,045-person capacity of Lumbini Park, designated as the venue within the temple complex.
He said the congregation comprises monks and devotees from Indonesia and abroad gathering to recite suttas, or discourses, from the Tipitaka scripture.
Mahatera further noted that the activity also featured lectures by monks specializing in Buddhist education, aimed at helping participants not only read but also grasp the values enshrined in the Majjhima Nikaya, a collection of middle-length suttas.
He emphasized that the Indonesia Tipitaka Chanting is more than an annual religious event, underscoring its role as a platform for devotees from various places to deepen their understanding of the Dhamma and apply it in daily life.
Supriyadi, Director General for Buddhist Community Affairs at the Religious Affairs Ministry, applauded the Indonesian Theravada Sangha for organizing the event annually.
