Jan. 21, 2014 — Each year at the full moon in May, Indonésie hosts its most significant Buddhist celebration on the spectacular Borobudur site, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1991, alongside the neighboring subsidiary temples of Mendut and Pawon.

This day holds profound meaning for practitioners as it simultaneously commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing (paranirvana) of Gotama Siddhartha—known as the "Buddha"—in India more than 2,500 years ago. It is indeed an occasion for grand gatherings of monks and believers from across the archipelago. Beneath the immense and majestic banyan tree standing before the Mendut temple (3 km before Borobudur), which houses a magnificent statue of Buddha seated upon a throne, offerings of fruits, flowers, water, and fire are presented before the Buddha statues, accompanied by the display of relics, sacred texts containing his teachings, and multicolored banners of Buddhist flags. The ceremony also includes moments of prayer and meditation, concluding with a beautiful candlelit procession winding through the fragrant smoke of incense and flowers from Mendut temple to the mandala-shaped hill of stone and statues at Borobudur.

Often graced by the presence of the Indonesian head of state (and occasionally from neighboring Buddhist nations), the grand final ceremony at the foot of the Borobudur temple, beneath skies illuminated by the full moon, features music, dance, prayers, and solemn reflection.

An exceptional moment—this magical night spent alongside Buddhist monks and devoted followers—becomes an unforgettable encounter with peace and harmony.

Jean-Pascal Elbaz, former director of the French Cultural Centre, living in Indonésie since 1991.

Charlène Nomadays — An SEO writer from Nomadays' earliest days, Charlène has evolved into content manager and head of communications, accompanying the adventure with passion and commitment from the start. Having lived seven years across Asia—from China to Thailand, passing through Mongolia and South Korea—she has made travel a way of being in the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she endeavors to convey in her writing a thoughtful, engaged, and responsible vision of tourism. For her, each article is a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.