Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia.
The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.
[1] A main dome is located at the center of the top platform, and is surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.
The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument
and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through
the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely, Kamadhatu (the world of desire);
Rupadhatu (the world of forms); and Arupadhatu (the world of formless).
During the journey, the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways
and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.
Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth
century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese
conversion to Islam.
[2] It was rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Raffles, the British ruler of Java.
Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations.
The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO,
following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
[3] Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage, where once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak
at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia’s single most visited tourist attraction
Indonesian culture has been shaped by long interaction between original indigenous
customs and multiple foreign influences. Indonesia is central along ancient trading
routes between the Far East and the Middle East, resulting in many cultural practices
being strongly influenced by a multitude of religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism,
Confucianism and Islam, all strong in the major trading cities. The result is a complex
cultural mixture very different from the original indigenous cultures.
Examples of cultural fusion include the fusion of Islam with Hindu in Javanese Abangan
belief, the fusion of Hinduism, Buddhism and animism in Bodha, and the fusion of
Hinduism and animism in Kaharingan; others could be cited.
Indonesian art-forms express this cultural mix. Wayang,
traditional theater-performed puppet shows,
were a medium in the spread of Hinduism and Islam amongst Javan villagers.
Both Javanese and Balinese dances have stories about ancient Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms,
while Islamic art forms and architecture are present in Sumatra,
especially in the Minangkabau and Aceh regions.
Traditional art, music and sport are combined in a martial art form called Pencak Silat.
Western culture has influenced Indonesia most in modern entertainment such as television shows, movies and songs
.India has notably influenced Indonesian songs and movies.
A popular type of song is the Indian-rhythmical dangdut, which is often mixed with Arab and Malay folk music.
Despite the influences of foreign culture, some remote Indonesian regions still preserve uniquely indigenous culture.
Indigenous ethnic groups of Mentawai, Asmat, Dani, Dayak, Toraja and many others are still practising their ethnic rituals,
customs and wearing traditional clothes.
