Photo story: World Hindu Summit 2013

Posted by Umi Haroh on 28th June, 2013

Despite being considered a high-profile event for Hindus, the World Hindu Summit, held this month in Bali, did not gain as much attention as the Buddhists’ Waisak commemoration at Borobudur Temple in Central Java last month.

The summit took place on June 13-17 with Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali delivering the opening speech.

Delegations from the United States, India, Malaysia and other countries also attended the event, along with representatives from the Indonesian Hindu Council Parishad (PHDI) from across Indonesia's 33 provinces.

“This event affirms the efforts taken by the religious society – especially the Hindu people – to uphold harmony and peace in society,” the minister said in his opening speech.

Last year’s summit, which was also held in Bali, the summit produced the so-called Bali Charter, which stipulated the need to establish World Hindu Parishad as an organization to unify Hindu society, coordinate their activities and propagate Hindu Dharma globally.

This year, the World Hindu Parishad was officially declared, along with the World Hindu Center, which acts as the implementing body of World Hindu Parishad’s vision and programs.

The Samuan Tiga Temple in Gianyar was chosen to hold the opening ceremony because it has an important place in the history of Hindu people in Bali.

Based on writings on the Tatwa Siwa Purana parchment and the Kutaca Kanda Dewa Purana Bangsul parchment, Samuan Tiga Temple is believed to be the place where the TriMurti (three wisdoms) concept was first introduced around 1 millennium ago.

The TriMurti eventually changed Balinese Hindus into the harmonic society that we now see on the island. Such a spirit of unity is what the summit is trying to achieve with the declaration of the World Hindu Parishad.

This new Bali-based organization will replace the World Hindu Federation as an independent Hindu organization, bringing together all Hindu organizations in the world.

Last changed: 28th June, 2013 at 6:46 AM

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